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Does The Zilker Holiday Tree Have Enough Security?


A woman claims her purse was stolen over the weekend at the Zilker Holiday Tree and police were nowhere to be found.

Angela Hodges says it happened Friday night. 

“Me and my boyfriend and a few of our friends were just standing around here trying to spin around the tree. I sat my purse down in the group of all of us,” she said.

Before she knew it her purse was gone with her phone, car and house keys, along with her ID and check card.

“We looked all around the tree and all behind the venders to try and find security or cops and there was no one here, no one in charge,” Hodges said.

Hodges got ahold of authorities nearly an hour later on the phone, but her purse was still nowhere to be seen.

“We ended up going home and that's when my boyfriend said we can track your iPhone,” said Hodges.

Taking matters into her own hands, Hodges located her phone on the east side. It was not until her boyfriend tweeted Chief Art Acevedo when something got done.

“He ended up having Art Acevedo call him directly and he had a team over there and unfortunately he didn't have enough evidence,” Hodges said.

According to Austin Police, in October there were five thefts at the park, one being a vehicle burglary. Come Dec. 16 APD says they will add 25 officers to the Zilker Holiday Tree and Trail of Lights.

“Right now it is a directed patrol so the officers that are actually patrolling the night and the parks in Austin will come out here as they are available,” said Senior Officer Michael Hart.

In the meantime, Hodges wants to tell her story in hopes of other people will be more vigilant.

By Christie Post