Police seek suspect after running vehicle stolen from Valero gas station off North I-35 frontage road

Auto theft reported at North Austin gas station

Austin police are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect in a vehicle theft reported at a North Austin gas station after a driver left a car running unattended.

The incident occurred at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in the 11100 block of the North Interstate 35 northbound service road. Police said the victim left the vehicle running at a Valero station. A man approached the vehicle, walked around it as if checking whether anyone was inside, then got in and drove away.

Vehicle recovered; suspect remains unidentified

Police said the stolen vehicle was recovered two days later, on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Investigators have not released details about where it was found, its condition, or whether additional evidence was recovered with it.

As of the latest update from police, no arrest has been announced. The case remains under investigation by the department’s Auto Theft Unit, which is seeking tips that could lead to identifying the person shown in a surveillance image released to the public.

Suspect description released

Police described the suspect as a Black man believed to be between 30 and 40 years old, with a heavy build and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, tan shorts, and black slide-style shoes.

• Case number: 25-2810887
• Date and time: October 7, 2025, about 4 p.m.
• Location: 11100 block of N. I-35 northbound service road
• Vehicle recovered: October 9, 2025

What investigators are asking the public to do

Police are requesting that anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the theft contact the Auto Theft Unit by email. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by phone; police said a reward of up to $1,000 may be available if information leads to an arrest.

Investigators are seeking information that could identify the suspect or clarify the sequence of events around the theft and recovery.

The theft, as described by police, reflects a common vulnerability in opportunistic vehicle crimes: a running, unattended car can be taken within seconds. Police have not said whether the keys were left inside, whether the vehicle had push-button start technology, or how long it was unattended before the suspect drove off.