Austin Police arrested Brian Degrate, 33, for his connection to at least 16 robberies in North Austin, and charged him with 21 counts of aggravated robbery.
AUSTIN POLICE PAST AND PRESENT SOUND ALARM ON RIPPLE EFFECTS OF DEFUNDING POLICE: 'IT'S CRUSHING MORALE'
Two days later, Degrate allegedly held a victim at gunpoint in an apartment complex parking lot and stole money from the victim’s wallet. In the same apartment complex on Sept. 19, Degrate hit a victim with a bat before taking the victim’s keys, car, and cell phone, police said. The car was found a short time later.Many of the incidents took place in the early morning hours, according to police, and Degrate is accused of using weapons like handguns, a machete, hammer, pepper spray, an electric stun gun, and his own fists to injury the victims before stealing their property.