Bastrop police are warning residents against a possible gang of individuals targeting "moms" to steal checkbooks, driver licenses and other identifying information for financial gain.

"These unknown individuals are from out of state and have since reportedly been attempting to target the Texas area, to include the Central Texas area," Bastrop Police Detective Vicky Steffanic said.

While Bastrop has not been affected by this type of crime, officials are warning residents to be aware of their surroundings and take preventative measures.

"In general, these individuals target moms dropping their kids off at daycare, going for a run in the park, or moms watching their kids’ sporting events," Steffanic said. "This is due to the ‘moms’ leaving their belongings in the vehicle, to include the trunk."

Officials said once a victim’s financial and identifying information is obtained, someone could commit a crime with the information, including identify theft, credit card fraud and other financial crimes.

"The Police Department is asking you be vigilant about leaving personal items in your unattended vehicle or any other place you may set your belongings down for a moment (such as your grocery cart)," Steffanic said.

Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to call Community Services Officer Tamera McIntyre at 512-332-8610.

Lost Pines Art Center to open new exhibit

The Lost Pines Art League is featuring a new exhibit honoring the oil and watercolor works of long-term member C.M. Mike Henderson.

Henderson was a member of the national organizations Oil Painters of America and American Watercolor Society. Locally, he was a board member and past president of the Lost Pines Art League and member of the Lost Pines Artists Alliance.

"He is dearly missed but his legacy lives on through his artwork and the kind of man he was to all those who knew him," the league said in a statement.

The exhibit will open on Friday, as part of the First Friday Art Walk, at 5 p.m.

Henderson loved to mentor and teach others and was thrilled to be part of the development of the new Lost Pines Art Center and Reflection Sculpture Garden, the league said.

Mike held degrees or certifications in associate of art from Temple College, fine arts at University of Texas and studies in leadership and motivation as an officer of the Austin Fire Department. He was voted the Best Artist in Bastrop County at least three times.

Mike Henderson was a regular contributor for the Lost Pines Art League’s quarterly newsletter, "Artist Input."

Following are some thoughts he shared:

"’Do you see what I see?’ I was once asked by one of my daughters. ‘Do artists see things differently from other people?’"

"That is a question that I think artists should ask themselves often until it becomes second nature," he said. "It makes you stop and really consider what you are seeing – it helps me to carry my camera to remind me that painting ideas hide in plain sight all the time.

"My print series ‘Bastrop Before the Fires and Floods’ is a good example of not just looking, but really seeing. Two of the areas I painted no longer exit. I had been to all these places many times for years and never really saw them until I decided to paint them and reminded myself once again that only I see what I see.

"You are a unique person with a unique way of seeing. You can paint what I paint, but it will be what you paint. So to answer my daughter’s question I said, ‘I suppose we do, but the fascinating thing is all artists see things differently from each other, too. And what a splendid array we create.’"