In early August, the Austin Police Department received several reports of suspicious activity in South Austin neighborhoods. Each of the incidents varied slightly, but most residents reported that a male subject would ring their doorbell or knock on their door and ask for gas money or make a similar request. The incidents occurred late at night and there were some reports that the subject was driving a white sedan.



APD received information from a citizen identifying the potential subject. On Aug. 20, 2014, patrol officers received another suspicious person call. They were able to locate the suspect vehicle and identified the driver and passenger as brothers James and John Burkey. At that time, there was no information that the Burkeys had committed any offenses and no arrests were made by APD.



On Aug. 23, 2014, a theft was reported at the Home Depot at Slaughter and IH-35. The theft suspects matched the descriptions of the two white males seen knocking on doors in South Austin. APD Detectives conducted a photo line up and then issued warrants for the Burkeys, who were arrested and charged with the following:





John Burkey, D.O.B. 8-18-73: Theft, State Jail Felony, $5,000 bond

John Burkey, D.O.B. 8-18-73: Theft, State Jail Felony, $5,000 bond



James Burkey, D.O.B. 4-10-79: Theft, Class B Misdemeanor, $2,000 bond

James Burkey, D.O.B. 4-10-79: Theft, Class B Misdemeanor, $2,000 bond

APD wants to remind citizens to remain vigilant and if you see suspicious activity or suspicious persons in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.