At a Glance
- Black and red Jordan 12 Retro Flu Game sneakers were the key evidence linking a string of Austin burglaries.
- 13 incidents from July to September involved restaurants and a convenience store, totaling over $25,000 in losses.
- Officer Michael Weston tied the suspects to a vehicle and a 36-year-old named Christopher Rucker.
Austin police say a pair of black and red Jordan 12 Retro Flu Game sneakers helped connect a series of burglaries that began in July and continued through September. The cases, mostly restaurants, involved two suspects and resulted in more than $25,000 in losses. An affidavit filed with Travis County courts details how surveillance footage tied the shoes to each crime.
July 25 JuiceLand Burglary Cluster
Three JuiceLand locations were targeted in the early-morning hours of July 25. The first break-in at 10700 Research Blvd occurred around 1:30 a.m., followed by a 7300 Burnet Rd shop just before 2 a.m., and a 2400 Guadalupe St outlet just before 3 a.m. Together, the suspects stole $1,300.
August and September Spree
The August and September incidents spanned a variety of venues:
- Aug 6 – East Side Pies on Burnet Rd, $2,000 stolen.
- Aug 11 – Vi Cafe on Anderson Mill Rd, $2,000.
- Aug 18 – Hornitos Tex-Mex on N IH 35 Service Rd SB, $200; Marco’s Pizza, $200.
- Aug 19 – Habana on S Congress Ave, $290; Riverside Washateria, $290; Unipago Check Cashing on S 1st St, $3,000; Pedroso’s Pizza on Justin Lane, $2,000.
- Aug 27 – Cameron Xpress Mart on Cameron Rd, $22,000.
- Sep 2 – La Preferida Bar on N Lamar Blvd, burglary reported.
Suspect and Vehicle Link
Officer Weston said the surveillance footage showed at least one suspect wearing the same black and red sneakers in every case. Officer Michael Weston stated:
> “It was apparent… that these two suspects were the same as seen in the JuiceLand burglary at 7329 Burnet Rd. on the same day, and that Suspect #1 was the same suspect in all three burglaries.”
A vehicle linked to the burglaries led investigators to a 36-year-old suspect named Christopher Rucker. Multiple warrants have been issued for his arrest, and he was named in a separate September affidavit that also covered the East Side Pies, Vi Cafe and Pedroso’s Pizza incidents.
| Month | Total Stolen | Incidents | Suspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | $1,300 | 3 | Officer Michael Weston |
| August | $31,980 | 9 | Christopher Rucker |
| September | N/A | 1 | N/A |
Key Takeaways
- The black and red Jordan sneakers were a unique and very recognizable piece of evidence tying the burglaries together.
- Christopher Rucker, a 36-year-old, is the primary suspect linked to most of the incidents.
- Police have issued multiple warrants and continue to investigate the ongoing case.
The investigation demonstrates how a single pair of shoes can help police connect disparate crimes and bring suspects to justice.
