Austin Police Arrest Suspect Tied to Multi-City Auto Theft Ring

Austin, Texas – Austin Police have arrested a man linked to a sophisticated vehicle theft and fraud operation spanning multiple Texas cities after he allegedly sold a stolen car to an Austin dealership using fake paperwork. The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Dexter Avery Carrington.

On September 8, 2025, Austin Police were contacted by a security manager for a national rental car company about a stolen 2025 Nissan Altima that had been tracked to a dealership in Austin. The car had been unlawfully removed from a secured lot in Houston.

Investigators learned that earlier that day, the suspect sold the stolen Altima to the dealership for $17,000 using a fraudulent Florida title. After being notified by the rental company, the dealership quickly canceled the payment and secured the vehicle. When the suspect returned to the dealership, officers detained him without incident.

During questioning, the suspect claimed he had purchased the car and sold it to provide for his family. However, inconsistencies in his story and the fake title documents confirmed the vehicle had been stolen.

As a result, Austin and Houston police have filed six felony charges, with additional charges expected as the investigation continues.

Detectives believe the suspect is connected to about 20 similar thefts across Texas, including at least four cases previously investigated by the Houston Police Department. His operation reportedly involved a female accomplice who would rent vehicles, duplicate keys, and install tracking devices. The pair would then steal the cars after they were returned, forge new Florida titles using fake Texas paperwork, and sell the vehicles to unsuspecting dealerships and private buyers.

Anyone with information about this case or similar incidents is urged to contact the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program anonymously at austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.