Case:  24-5027135
 
Date:  Monday, October 21, 2024
 
Time:  Approximately 4:45 p.m.
 
Location:  4400 N Lamar Blvd (parking lot)

Suspect (arrested):  Caleb Thompsen, Black male, 21 years of age

On Monday, October 21, 2024, at approximately 4:45 p.m., a victim called 311 to report that she and her family member were robbed of a very high-end piece of jewelry. The victim said they attempted to sell the jewelry on Facebook Marketplace and were contacted by an interested buyer (the suspect, later identified as Caleb Thompsen). The victim later met Thompsen in the parking lot of 4400 N Lamar Boulevard where they thought the transaction would occur safely and in public.
 
When the victim arrived, she and her family member observed the Thompsen flagging them down. While the victim was holding the jewelry, and before she could react, Thompsen reached out and snatched the jewelry out of her hand. While snatching the jewelry out of her hand, Thompsen made an aggressive lunge movement like he would strike her if she tried to get the jewelry back. As Thompsen is approximately six feet tall, and the female victim is approximately five feet tall, she feared for her safety if she attempted to get her property back. Minutes after this incident, with the stolen jewelry bragging about stealing the jewelry and his intent to sell it.
 
After a thorough investigation and confirming the identification of the suspect, an arrest warrant was filed by the APD Robbery Unit for Robbery for 2nd degree felony. The Violent Crimes Task Force Unit arrested Thompsen and  booked him into the Travis County Jail. 
 
The APD Robbery Unit would like to remind our community to be very cautious when conducting online business/sales. The victim in this case took several recommended precautions: brought someone else with her, met in a public place during the day, but unfortunately was still victimized. 

Here are some additional tips to follow:

• Keep the item(s) secure until you receive payment.
• Conduct business in a public place with numerous other witnesses – do not conduct the transaction near your home.
• If possible, conduct the transaction on camera (dash camera, personal body camera).
• Obtain a vehicle description of the person you will be meeting, vehicle make/model/license plate number/color and do not meet with them unless those identifiers match.
• Obtain a description of what they will be wearing and of their physical description and do not meet with anyone other than someone fitting those identifiers.
• Screenshot the potential buyer’s social media account once you agree to meet with them in the event they quickly delete the account after the sale.

Anyone with any information should contact APD's Robbery unit at 512-974-5092. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.