APD links Boost Mobile robber to 5 other crimes

FOX 7 first showed you video of a robber holding a cell phone store employee at knife-point. On Wednesday, Austin police say they've linked that suspect to five other robberies.

This is how a robbery at the Boost Mobile store along East Riverside Drive played out Monday.

The robber dressed in construction gear and holding a knife looks directly into a surveillance camera before emptying a cash register and shuffling a terrified employee and her sister into a back room. It's that moment of realization that there is a camera rolling that Detective Brad Ray says he keeps watching over and over again.

"I'm grateful that we have that video,” said Detective Brad Ray, Austin Police Department.

Ray has connected the man to five other robberies.

He says the spree began in August at the Fred Loya Insurance Agency along East Riverside. The man has hit businesses in North, South and West Austin.

The department distributed images from two of the crimes.

"Most of the robberies there is some element of construction worker in his attire. Boots were often cited by victims as well as jeans and other apparel,” said Ray. "It's possible he has part time work or works occasionally as a day labor in some construction field."

Ray's biggest hope lies in the recent video.

Ray says there is an urgency to find the man as he appears to be escalating… coming closest with a weapon to his most recent victim who we spoke with Tuesday. "He was telling me how, if I came back, or if I got out from the office that he was going to stab me,” said Maria Yanez.

"What we're hoping is somebody who knows him will recognize his behavior hope that he's not hurting other people and maybe allow us the opportunity to stop this while we don't have victims who have been harmed,” said Ray.