By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
Steiner Ranch business owners can rest easier now. Defendant Frank Flores, who is linked to local break-in cases, entered guilty pleas on Monday to six counts of burglary of a building and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on each case.
“We are pleased with a result that will keep the defendant off the streets for a few years,” said James Booher, assistant Travis County District Attorney. “We trust these sentences will give our business owners in Steiner Ranch and around Austin some peace of mind and deter the defendant and others from similar conduct in the future.”
Flores’ 10-year sentences will run concurrently.
At the time of his plea on April 29, Flores had 17 burglary of building cases pending in the 331st District Court. Jury selection in one of those cases had commenced when the defendant decided to plead guilty, according to the Travis County DA’s office.
Karl Schulte, River Place resident and owner of Steiner Cleaners, was ready to testify on Tuesday when he got word of the guilty pleas.
“What a waste of time and money on so many different aspects of life,” Schulte said. “I’m glad it’s over as I can sleep a little better not wondering if it is going to happen again.”
Steiner Cleaners was hit twice by Flores, both times its front window was smashed in.
Like Schulte, Cups & Cones owner Rick Nordin was also ready to testify this week.
“We were subpoenaed. They wanted us to reflect on how much it costs to recover from a break-in so the jury would have a good idea,” said Nordin, also a River Place resident.
Repairs were more than $1,000, replacing the glass in the door is more than $600, Nordin said. “He (Flores) got less money than that from all of the three (Steiner) break-ins. Not counting the turmoil he put the businesses into.”
“I was glad they actually caught him and prosecuted him,” Nordin said. “I was glad he pleaded guilty to own up to his responsibilities.”
Criminal in action
During the months of August and September of 2018, the defendant Flores burglarized multiple businesses around Austin and Travis County. At least four of the businesses were burglarized more than once.
The defendant, who struck in the early morning hours, targeted convenience stores, restaurants, dry cleaners and a real estate office. In each case, the defendant drove a blue GMC Terrain which he backed up to the door of the business.
Flores consistently wore a black hoodie, black pants, white shoes and gray/black gloves. He was observed on multiple surveillance videos smashing the door glass with a hammer, making entry and then stealing cash drawers, safes, cigarettes, loose change and other items of value.
Local cases
On Aug. 26, Nordin pulled into Cups & Cones’ side entrance and was heading into the shop with his arms full around 5 a.m. when saw the shattered glass door. Nordin soon realized that the register was gone and more than $700 in cash was taken.
While Nordin was discovering what happened, he just missed Flores, who was caught on surveillance video a few doors down at Steiner Cleaners. The video shows the burglary happened at 5:01 a.m. on Aug. 26.
The video also revealed Flores had a hammer in one hand and a flashlight as he riffled through drawers.
Then the third incident happened at about 5:17 a.m. that same Sunday morning when Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt was burglarized. Bob Elmer, owner of the Steiner Menchie’s franchise, was called by his security company and got to his shop as quickly as possible. The police were already there. It is alleged that Flores smashed through the front door and attempted to take two safes and was unsuccessful, Elmer said.
Arrest
In October, Austin Police patrolling the south Austin area in the early morning hours saw a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle seen at the burglaries. It was leaving the parking lot of a gas station that was closed for business at that hour.
The officer ran the plate which revealed a warrant for the driver’s arrest. The driver, Frank Flores, was arrested for the warrant. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing identical white shoes and black pants to those seen in surveillance videos.
The vehicle was searched and police discovered an identical black hoodie, gloves, hammers and pry bars along with multiple license plates equipped with Velcro. The license plate on the vehicle also was equipped with Velcro as well to allow the quick exchange of plates before and after each burglary.
Subsequent investigation revealed the defendant’s cell phone was at or near multiple burglary locations around the times the burglaries were committed.
According to the Oct. 11 arrest warrant filed by Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Flores was suspected in the Aug. 22 burglary of the Gene Arant Team, Keller Williams Realty office, 4304 N. Quinlan Park, and suspected in the Aug. 26 burglaries of Menchies Frozen Yogurt, 5145 N. RM 620, as well as Cups & Cones and Steiner Cleaners, both located in the Shops at Steiner Ranch, 2900 N. Quinlan Park, Austin.
The TCSO warrant stated Flores had 27 prior arrests for burglary of a building with six convictions, in addition to 10 other felony arrests.
Guilty
This week the defendant Flores pleaded guilty to burglarizing Woody’s Country Market, The Bread Basked, Petro Mart, Thai Cuisine, Café Java and Steiner Cleaners.
The prosecution team of Booher and Abbey Fowler are appreciative of the hard work and collaborative efforts of the Austin Police Department Burglary Unit and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office in bringing the defendant to justice.
