AUSTIN, Texas — A man remains in the Travis County Jail after allegedly stealing dozens of cellphones from concertgoers during the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL).
Victor Manuel Castro-Ordonez, 23, was arrested after the Austin Police Department (APD) received numerous reports about stolen phones on Friday night of the festival's second weekend.
After APD investigated, they allegedly found Castro-Ordonez with 35 phones inside of his bag. Castro-Ordonez was found after one of the victims told an employee working at the festival that they got their phone back from a group of men. The victim told police that the group of men denied taking his phone until he was able to use another phone to call it and heard it ringing inside a bag.
The victim then pointed out the group to police, which led to the arrest.
According to an affidavit obtained by KVUE, Castro-Ordonez allegedly used a Faraday bag to hold the 35 phones. The bag is designed to block cell reception from penetrating it, which is supposed to block the ability to track the phones. The affidavit also said Castro-Ordonez tried to run from police with two other suspects before he was detained.
Police said 30 of the phones were returned to their owners. Castro-Ordonez was charged with theft and engaging in organized criminal activity, and he remains in jail on bonds totaling more than $22,000.
ACL has been a prime target for pickpocketing in the past. More than 250 stolen phones were recovered in 2021.