Thief Targeting East Austin Businesses

A thief has been targeting East Austin businesses, according to KVUE.

A majority of the targets have been health and wellness businesses and owners say they believe it’s the same man.

Mantis Massage, Neighborhood Acupuncture, Tiny Taiga Health Foods, and JCP Law, which shares office space with Austin Ashiatsu, all told KVUE they were targeted. .

Last month, a man came to Mantis Massage to book an appointment for his girlfriend. “He was very well-dressed, very friendly, very charismatic, seemed like a caring boyfriend,” owner Kyra Gerhard told the TV station.

“I think he came in to see what was up and to see what he could leave with,” she said. THe man eventually came in through a side door and took of with about $15,000 worth of items. “He just left with everything -- our gym bags, our backpacks and our purses,” Gerhard said.

[PHOTO: Image vis Shutterstock]