Armed bandit steals $50,000 from armored truck guard

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An armored truck driver was targeted in an afternoon robbery in the Meyerland area.

It happened at about 2:30pm at the Randalls grocery store at 4800 W. Bellfort near S. Post Oak Road. A Brinks Security employee was servicing an ATM inside the store when an armed suspect approached. He pointed a gun at the guard and demanded money. He got away with the guard's weapon and $50,000.

Police say that while the suspect did point a gun at the guard, no shots were fired, despite earlier reports.

The grocery store and bank remained open all afternoon. Only a small area around the ATM was affected. Regular shoppers at the store are shocked by what happened.

"It's a shame," said shopper Don Degen. "It seems like there are becoming more and more robberies and hijackings and things. I just don't understand it."

Investigators say there is just one suspect. He is described as a black male between 25 and 30 years old, 5'7" to 5'9", with a slim build and medium complexion. He was wearing a tan or off-white long sleeve button down shirt, blue jeans, a baseball cap and sunglasses. His getaway vehicle was a white Ford F-250 pickup truck.

FBI and other law enforcement officials are reviewing surveillance videos.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Thief steals $2,000 from SPCA thrift store in Freeport

Volunteers were in the back of the store on Monday when a thief walked off with a bank bag containing more than $2,000

  By Pooja LodhiaFREEPORT, TX (KTRK) -- It was a record month for a Brazoria County thrift store that supports the SPCA. But volunteers have nothing to show for their hard work after a thief made off with their profits.

Looking into their eyes, it's hard to believe anybody would want to hurt the cats and dogs looking for new loving homes.

"We live in such a caring community, that we expect the community to be a caring group of folks," said shelter executive director Jack Brown.

But one crook broke that trust on Monday. He allegedly broke into the SPCA thrift store and stole donations.

"He didn't just steal money from this store," said thrift store manager Harold Clem. "He stole all of our time and effort."

Harold says the store was closed and volunteers were in the back when somebody sneaked in through a back entrance and took a bank bag filled with $2,040 in cash. The money was the largest amount the thrift store has ever raised in a single weekend. The SPCA was already counting on using it to help fund its spay and neuter program.

"We can offer a low-cost spay and neuter procedure for as little as $20, and that's a $200 procedure," Brown explained.

The Freeport Police Department has identified a person of interest, but officers haven't been able to locate him.

"I'd like to tell him what a low-life sneaking thief he is, you know," Harold said. "I don't think he needs to breathe the same air that honest people do."

But Harold's wife, who also volunteers at the store, has a different take.

"I hope he needed the money more than the animals did," Billie Clem said. "Maybe he did."

The thrift store did not have any sort of security devices. They wanted to be able to give all the money raised to the animal shelter, but that may be changing, if they have to invest in theft-prevention devices.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Thief steals credit cards from gym lockers at fitness centers

FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- Friendswood police have surveillance video they hope will help them catch a man who has been stealing from lockers while people work out at the gym. They believe he may be hitting more than one location.

Gyms like the 24 Hour Fitness in Friendswood often warn members there's no guarantee their valuables will be safe, even if they're put away in a secure locker.

"I lock them in my truck," said gym member George Carr. "I don't take my watch or my cell phone or my billfold in there."

Bringing that point home is an unidentified man, who's now wanted by Friendswood police. He was caught on a surveillance camera walking into a Target store after investigators say he broke into someone's gym locker at a 24 Hour Fitness on FM 528 and stole a credit card. The suspect could be seen buying a 40-inch flat screen TV. Police are carefully reviewing the footage.

Friendswood Police Chief Robert Wieners said, "I think he's probably going to be connected to a series of thefts that are occurring in gyms or workout facilities."

It's happened at least one other time at the same 24 Hour Fitness. Police aren't sure how the suspect is getting into the gym, since members are required to check in at the front desk. Patrons we talked to say they'll start taking the necessary precautions.

"People have the opportunity or whatever and they are nefarious enough. I guess people do what they do," said gym member Richie Reeves. "But if you're not naive and lock your stuff up, you shouldn't have a problem."

Police say someone out there knows who the man in the video is. Investigators think he may not have been acting alone. We also contacted 24 Hour Fitness for a comment and are awaiting a response.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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