West Campus Crime

Spike in West Campus burglaries prompts APD investigation

The Austin Police Department is investigating a spike in home and auto burglary cases in the West Campus area.

According a press release from APD, there have been nine home burglaries, 18 vehicle burglaries and seven auto thefts in the past month alone.

APD says the majority of the thefts and burglaries occurred in unlocked homes and cars, reminding Austinites to lock their doors and hide possessions from plain sight. In regards to vehicle thefts, the perpetrators appear to be targeting more expensive cars, like BMWs. "In two of these cases, the keys were left in the car and in three of the cases, the keys were stolen from a home or another vehicle," the department says in the press release.

The residential burglaries occurred specifically in the northwest campus area between 30th and 38th streets and West Street and Duval Street. Vehicle burglaries (only possessions were taken from the cars) occurred between Lamar Boulevard and 31st Street, while vehicle thefts took place between Exposition Boulevard and Duval Street.

APD has not released information on whether these acts were a concentrated effort or a coincidence, but the department did reassure that "special initiatives" will be taken in the area in response to the spike.

According to the police chief's monthly statistics reports the number of property crimes in Austin has increased from 3,075 incidents in September 2014 to 3,242 in October 2014; both months saw a decrease from 2013. Statistics for November have not yet been released.

The West Campus area has experienced a spike in home and auto burglaries.

Courtesy of Austin Police Department Facebook

The West Campus area has experienced a spike in home and auto burglaries.

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WFH life

Austin plugs in as 2nd cheapest large U.S. city for remote workers

Photo by Lewis Guapo on Unsplash

Working remotely in Austin is far more affordable than many other U.S. cities.

Austin's thriving telework industry is already known for being among the most prominent in the country, and as it turns out, it's one of the most affordable, too. A recent study by online retailer The Perfect Rug has revealed Austin is the No. 2 cheapest U.S. city center for remote work.

The report ranked the top 10 largest U.S. cities based on population data, the number of coworking spaces and cafes per capita, statewide average internet speeds, average apartment rent prices, and more.

Austin falls second to the far west Texas city of El Paso (No. 1), and is followed by Houston in the No. 3 spot.

When it comes to finding the best place to work remotely, Austin has an abundance of options including coffee shops, coworking spaces, and local library branches. According to the report's data, there are about six coworking spaces and 26 cafes per capita in the city, but Austinites know best that there is a much wider variety of places to work from "home" than whatever number a study determines.

The average internet speed in Texas is 425.9 mbps (megabits per second), which is the fourth-highest internet speed out of the six total states (and the District of Columbia) mentioned in the study. Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. all have faster average internet speeds, at 430.8, 451, and 473.8 mpbs, respectively.

The Perfect Rug also calculated the average costs for meals, coffee, and monthly rent in Austin:

$1,467 per month – Average apartment rent cost in central Austin
$21 per hour – Average cost for a desk at a coworking space
$16.99 – Average cost for a meal
$5.36 – Average cost for a coffee

Furthermore, Austin-based remote workers are technically saving on fuel costs compared to those who have to commute into the city daily for their jobs.

A spokesperson for The Perfect Rug said Texas cities like El Paso, Austin, and Houston are far more popular for "budget-conscious" remote workers partially because rent costs are far lower in comparison to many other U.S. cities.

"On the other hand, cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle, while more expensive, compensate with faster internet speeds and a higher density of workspaces, which can enhance the remote work experience," the spokesperson said. "Finding the right balance between cost and amenities is key for remote workers seeking both productivity and affordability."

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio ranked as the fifth most affordable city for teleworkers, followed by Dallas (No. 7).

The top 10 cheapest U.S. cities for remote workers are:

No. 1 – El Paso, Texas
No. 2 – Austin, Texas
No. 3 – Houston, Texas
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Washington, D.C.
No. 7 – Dallas, Texas
No. 8 – Denver, Colorado
No. 9 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 10 – Nashville, Tennessee

austin reports rankings remote work