On September 8, 2025, Austin Police Department (APD) officers arrested Dexter Avery Carrington, a 32-year-old man, in connection with the theft of a 2025 Nissan Altima. The vehicle was reported stolen from a secured lot in Houston and was later tracked to a dealership at 4610 S IH 35 Svrd Sb in Austin.
According to APD, the investigation began when a security manager from a large rental car company contacted police after locating the stolen vehicle at an Austin dealership. Carrington sold the Nissan Altima to the dealership for $17,000 using what authorities described as a fraudulent Florida title. After being notified by the rental company about the vehicle’s status, the dealership canceled its payment and secured the car.
When Carrington returned to the dealership later that day, officers detained him without incident. During questioning after being read his rights, “the suspect claimed he had purchased the vehicle and sold it to support his family. However, inconsistencies in his statements, along with fraudulent documentation, confirmed that he unlawfully appropriated the vehicle,” according to APD.
Authorities have filed six felony charges against Carrington through both APD and Houston Police Department (HPD), with additional charges possible as their investigation continues. Investigators say Carrington has been linked to about 20 similar auto theft cases—including four previously investigated by HPD—using methods such as employing an accomplice to rent vehicles, duplicating keys, installing tracking devices on cars after return, then stealing them again.
Police allege that Carrington would then obtain counterfeit Texas titles to fraudulently secure Florida titles before selling these vehicles to buyers who were unaware they were stolen.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to submit tips anonymously via Capital Area Crime Stoppers at https://www.austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.
