08/25/2024
! ROBBED !
After eight years in business it happened....
In the early morning of Thursday, August 22nd, our iSMASHED store in the Dripping Springs-Belterra area, was unfortunately broken into and robbed.
Scott entered the shop just before 10am and found the steel entry door ajar and the lock pried off. A customer had just entered the store and said he was concerned that someone had been murdered. Scott immediately called the Travis County Sherriff's department and they dispatched a deputy.
The thieves had taken most everything of value in the shop, including phones, tablets, computers, repair screens, batteries, cash and more, totaling to about $15,000 of damage and product stolen.
The Travis County Deputy that came out to our shop took photos, fingerprints and did a report. We also were able to catch on camera the car and one of the thieves.
Luckily for us, the phones that the thieves stole were still on and we were able to track them to a house in the neighborhood of Scenic Brook near the Y in Oak Hill. Unfortunately the Travis County Sherriff's office would not assist us with this.
So we did it ourselves. Once we located the house and car, we could see our items were in plain view of the backseat of the car. Also seen in plain view were burglary tools.
We then called the sheriffs office again, they told us they couldn't help because the house was located in the Austin Police department jurisdiction.
After calling APD SIX times, they finally showed up two hours after the initial call. I (Chuck) stayed there the whole time because I was concerned the thieves would try to drive away. When the police arrived, I warned them that the neighbors had told me that the male residents of the house had been arrested before on several charges, including gun related charges.
APD said that they could not open the car without a warrant, but the car would be towed to a police facility in Manor while waiting for a warrant. The residents of the house in Scenic Brook in Austin refused to answer the door.
The good thing is we located what appears to be a band of professional thieves and hopefully the police will take them off the streets and prevent them from breaking into your homes and businesses.
iSMASHED was able to order new supplies that were overnighted to us and we were back in business within one day. Fortunately all of our customers phones and tablets were locked in our safe and the thieves could not get to those.
Most of the products are not insured, because we had a $10,000 deductible.
We hope our caring and loyal customers continue to use our services for phone repairs and phone sales. We truly appreciate your business.
Thank you,
Chuck Sellers
Scott Sellers
Ryan Sellers
