Police shortages leave Austin jewelry store in dire straits amid crime wave: 'This is not working'
Business owner Daniel Schweiterman waited10 days to hear back from police
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Daniel Schweiterman, owner of Regard Jewelry store in Austin, Texas said Thursday his business was targeted by the same criminals multiple times as the city's crime crisis escalates.
"We've called [the Austin Police Department] for ten days straight. It was a 311 call," he told "Fox & Friends First."
"The 311 is a customer service-based system, and you wait for the police to call you back."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Schweiterman went on to say he has struggled to get a police report during the 10 days since he made his initial call to the 311 number.
TRUMP MAKES LAW AND ORDER PITCH AT TEXAS CPAC, CONDEMNS RAGING CRIME AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
He also said the number was created in an attempt to offset intense call volumes as police shortages leave the city in disarray.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Police in Austin, Texas, are warning of a new crime trend called 'jugging.' (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
"311 is not working. A jewelry store should not take ten days to get a police report," he said. The Austin Police Department issued a statement urging citizens to use the customer service-based number for "non-emergency situations" instead of 911.
POLICE CHIEFS SOUND ALARM ON STAFFING SHORTAGES AS COPS LEAVE FORCE FOR OTHER CAREERS
In light of the policy, Schweiterman added that the only way his business could get a police report soon is by calling 911 and reporting a violent crime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This is for sure not working. You take away the police force and then ask us all not to have weapons or anything in our stores to protect ourselves. The crime rate is going to go up."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Host Todd Piro noted the suspect in the crime dropped a receipt featuring the tools he used during the robbery, as well as his name.