Video captures break-in at Sugar Land business park

  SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- Two men and a woman are on the run after police say they broke into two offices at a business park in Sugar Land last week.

According to Sugar Land police, the three people broke into offices at 1 Sugar Creek Blvd. back on January 5 at around 2pm.

The trio was captured on surveillance video going into the pried-open front doors of Petrolog International and the Leon Law Firm. The video shows two men entering one office as the women stands at the doors.

According to police, nothing was taken from either office suite.

Anyone with information should call the Sugar Land Police Department at (281) 275-2540 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477).
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Auto shop thieves shot at by owner after robbery of business

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A fed-up auto shop owner took matters into his own hands after a pair of thieves preyed on his business.

Workers at this auto shop told us when they saw the thieves driving back through the area minutes after the crime they had to act fast. The workers tried chasing the crooks down and shots were fired.

It's back to business as usual at Riley's Performance and Auto in Grangerland. But workers here say Tuesday was anything but ordinary when the driver of a silver Pontiac Sunfire walked in.

"He never would look me in the eye. He had a cap on, and he was just always looking down," said Jared Riley.

He says the man approached him trying to sell some old tools outside. On surveillance video, you can see his female passenger petting the auto shop's dogs as a theft is going down inside.

"We found the money box over on the couch, open, sprawled out everywhere and I'm the only person who has the key to it," Jared said.

The workers say the man pried open the cash box while they were distracted taking some cash and two check books.

"It's getting worse and worse and worse. The business owners around here are getting hit left and right," said John Riley.

John was returning from an errand as the man and woman drove off. His staff alerted him about the robbery and they quickly called 911.

"While we were on the phone with the sheriff's department, the guy drove right past here, and looks straight at Tim and looked straight back," John said.

He says they watched the alleged crooks drive to a nearby gas station and hopped in their own cars to chase after them.

"He immediately did a 180 in the car and took off. I turned my car sideways trying to block him and told him to freeze and he decided he didn't want to freeze," said John.

The driver tried running him over as he sped off, John says, so he fired his pistol at the car. Now Montgomery County sheriff's detectives are investigating.

The workers here say detectives told them deputies were able to track down and seize the getaway car. The investigation into the alleged suspects and the shop owner's actions are still ongoing.

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Ten people arrested in raid on sexually oriented business in NW Harris Co.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Ten people have been arrested in a raid on a sexually oriented business.

On Thursday, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says deputies executed a search warrant on Babes at 10610 West FM 1960 in northwest Harris County.

The raid was in response to numerous complaints and information that the club was operating as a sexually oriented business without a permit as required by Harris Co. SOB regulations.

Ten suspects were arrested, including the club's manager and several employees.

Deputies say this is the second time this year they have targeted this club for similar violations.

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

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Business owners take management district to court

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A battle is brewing between business owners and a management district in Montrose. The business owners say they're being unfairly taxed and they're taking the management district to court. The battle involves hundreds of businesses.

Management districts are nothing new, and Montrose is no exception. But a number of local business owners say their district doesn't do enough and they want it dissolved.

In Houston's bustling Montrose neighborhood, an apartment complex is a quiet reprieve, but its owner Bob Rose is angry, specifically at the Montrose Management District.

"I don't want to pay the fees," he said. "I'm not happy about how the district went about setting it up, where 25 people, kind of very quietly in a back room signed petitions to create this district."

Rose and several other Montrose business owners have filed suit against the area's management district and have been making their case on the internet. Management districts are legislature-created quasi-government entities that levy assessments on business property owners for services like better public safety and neighborhood upkeep. But the business owner's attorney says they just want the district to go away.

"What this district is trying to do, is to hit us with an unconstitutional illegal tax," said attorney Andy Taylor. "When we had the gall to gather together and to petition to dissolve them, which the law allows us to do, they stiff-armed us and they won't go away."

In court on Friday, the first step was taken in a long fight to dissolve the management district. The district's attorney argued the case should be thrown out. While Rose's attorney says they've collected enough signatures to legally dissolve the district.

While both sides wait for a ruling, Rose says he's just tired of paying $540 a year to an entity that's not the city, state, nor federal government.

He said, "If they want to set up these management districts, be very transparent about it, be very public about it, come out and address the people, tell them what you're going to do, have a vote of the people -- you get 51 percent of the people -- I'm fine with that."

The judge is expected to rule in a few weeks. Our phone calls to the management district have not been returned.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Small Business Acquisitions in Houston - More Buyers Are Looking

Man's body found outside north Houston business

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators are looking for answers after a local transmission shop owner was found dead outside of his business Saturday morning.

The body was found outside of Charlie's Certified Transmission in the 7000 block of N. Shepherd Drive between Rittenhouse Road and Granville Drive, just south of West Little York.

According to homicide investigators, the man has been identified as 50-year-old Roy Scott of Houston, the owner of the transmission shop.

There are still a lot of questions surrounding Scott's death. Police say he was shot once. There are no suspects and no witnesses have come forward.

Scott's family and neighbors just want to know why it happened.

As word spread of Scott's violent death, neighbors and friends rushed to his north Houston transmission shop to see what happened. No reactions were as gut-wrenching as those of his wife and teenage daughter.

"She's crying. She's devastated right now. Everyone is," said Vanessa Portillo, Scott's daughter's friend.

According to the Houston Police Department, someone who works at a nearby business walked by between 8 and 8:30am and saw Scott's body in a pool of blood. That person dialed 9-1-1, but Scott was already dead.

"It appears he'd been there for several hours," HPD Homicide Sgt. C.D. Howard said.

Investigators are canvassing the area and trying to retrace the shop owner's steps to pinpoint exactly when Scott arrived, and whether he was scheduled to meet anyone.

Neighbor Ruth Portillo says she was one of the last to see him alive. She spotted him on their street at 12:30am.

"My husband and I said 'hi' to him and then he left again," she said.

Neighbors say Scott loved building race cars. Is it possible he came here to work on one? His family may never know.

According to police, Scott's shop was closed and locked up. His cell phone and wallet were still on him when authorities searched his body.

Investigators may be looking for Scott's white Ford pickup truck. They're not sure if he let someone borrow it for a job or if it was stolen as part of this incident.

His wife told us he installed surveillance cameras after recent robberies, but police don't believe the cameras were rolling overnight.

So, who would want to hurt Scott?

"I don't know," neighbor Dale Singletary said. "All of their family and him, they're really nice people. Real good people."

There are still no arrests in this case and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call HPD or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. All tipsters remain anonymous.

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com as we continue to follow this story.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Car crashes into Willowbrook-area business

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Officials say 10 people were in a Willowbrook-area business when a driver lost control and crashed into the building Saturday morning.

It happened around 9:20am at the Car Toys on Tomball Parkway near F.M. 1960.

Officials said a woman driving through the parking lot somehow lost control of the vehicle and it went into the store.

The car stopped in the middle of the showroom floor.

No was was injured in the accident.

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

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Car crashes through roof of Santa Fe business

Police said this car left the roadway and traveled up the railroad track embankment, then jumped the railroad tracks, flying about 100 feet through the air and crashing through the roof of a business across the street (Santa Fe Police Department)

  SANTA FE, TX (KTRK) -- Police in Santa Fe are investigating a crash that must have looked like something out of an action movie.

Officials said a commercial burglary alarm went off at Gulf Coast Aerobic Services in the 13200 block of Texas 6 early Saturday. When officers arrived around 2am, they found a crashed vehicle inside of the business.

Investigators said 20-year-old Royce Morales of Santa Fe was driving north on Avenue R at around 90mph in a 30mph zone when the accident happened.

Morales failed to negotiate a turn, officials said. The vehicle left the roadway and traveled up the railroad track embankment, which caused it to go airborne.

Police said the crash was so dynamic that the vehicle jumped the railroad tracks, flying about 100 feet through the air and crashing through the roof.

The car landed upside-down on its nose in the Gulf Coast Aerobic Services building on the opposite side of the railroad tracks.

Officials said early estimates put the damage at more than $25,000.

According to police, the driver of the car was gone by the time they arrived. Detectives said they gathered evidence from the vehicle that led them to Morales, who attempted to report the car stolen.

Police said Morales confessed to being behind the wheel during the crash. Officials are pursuing charges for reckless driving and filing a false report.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Woman's body found in business parking lot

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police are awaiting autopsy results in the death of a woman found in northwest Harris County.

The Houston Police Department says patrol officers responded to a deceased person call about 7:30pm Thursday in the parking lot of a business at 2216 Pech Road after workers found a woman unresponsive. Houston Fire Department emergency personnel arrived and pronounced Louann Harris, 56, dead of unknown causes. A preliminary investigation indicated there are no signs of foul play in this incident. The investigation is pending Harris' cause of death to be determined by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Houston - An Ideal Location For Any Business Or Family

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Texas. Founded in 1836, Houston has fast made a name for itself as a key industrial city for energy, aeronautics and transportation and has a vast population of about 2.2. million people.

By the mid 1800s Houston had established itself as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton and this, along with the increased production of the local shipbuilding industry after World War II, caused the city to swell in size.

The city is now recognised world-wide for its energy industry in addition to its biomedical research and aeronautics. Houston now boasts 5 out of the 6 major energy companies - ConocoPhillips, Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron and BP. The area is also popular for building oilfield equipment thanks to the Port of Houston. The port is the 10th largest port in the world and ranks first in the United States for international commerce.

Houston office space is favoured by many high profile companies - in fact, after New York City it has the most Fortune 500 companies based there. Key organisations in the Houston area include the Texas Medical Centre, the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions, and NASA's Johnson Space Centre.

In addition to having high quality Houston office space, the area is also one of the best cities in America for jobs. Between 2007 and 2008 the Houston area added 42,500 private sector jobs to the US economy, registering the largest gain in private sector jobs across all US cities.

The city is a multicultural area due to its rich tapestry of academic institutions (17 school districts and more than 60 colleges serve the city) and industries. The metropolitan area is home to roughly 1.1 million residents with nearly two-thirds of the area's foreign-born population from the south of the US/Mexico border.

Houston is also a key area for culture. The downtown Theatre District is home to 9 major performing arts organisations and 6 performance halls. Houston is one of the only cities in the US with permanent, professional companies in all performing arts disciplines, including opera (Houston Grand Opera) and music (Houston Symphony Orchestra). The Bayou Bend facility of the Museum of Fine Arts boasts one of America's best collections of decorative arts, paintings and furniture, while The Alley Theatre plays host to Houston's professional theatre company.

Houston also has a very heavy sports influence and has a professional team for nearly every sport - only the NHL is not represented. The Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros) and the Reliant Astrodome are huge tourist attractions in Houston as are the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Rich in green space, Houston has the biggest total area of green space and parks out of the 10 most populated US cities. In total the area has over 200 green spaces, which includes the Williams Waterfall.

Rich in culture, jobs and creativity; Houston has a thriving, growing company which is ideal for any family looking for a new home. Perfect for sports-lovers and theatre fans alike; Houston really does have something for everyone, no matter what their tastes or likes.

Mom turns home business into multi-million dollar empire

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been said that if you really want to be successful, find your passion. We have the story of how one local mom took her passion and turned it into a multi-million dollar business.

The milestones of Rosie Herman's business are in a scrapbook. The first picture, though, is not of a product, but a young mother with twins with huge bills. "I thought, how can I do something and make extra money at home to help participate in paying off the debt load?" said Herman, founder of One Minute Manicure. The answer was to focus on what she knew, and as an esthetician, she knew manicures. As a mother, she knew the value of time and she created a quick fix concoction, first calling it Mommy's Magic. "'Cause it was my magic. I could only take a shower every two days and caring for the twins and so I'd use it all over my body and it would exfoliate, moisturize and last two days," she said. She shared it with friends. It caught on and it got a new name -- the One Minute Manicure. The factory was at first the family kitchen, then garage. The jars sold out at craft shows and developed a following, all this while her husband worked long hours as a flooring salesman. One weekend, she went to a craft show and when she returned... "He goes, 'I don't think you can do these shows anymore. This is too much for me for a weekend,' and when I walked by the coffee table and threw down $2,000 and I said, 'Are you sure about that,'" she said. That's where the scrapbooks change, from photos at home to glossy magazines in which the One Minute products were featured. Herman was featured on Oprah, as well, which brought in even more business and turning what began in a kitchen to a million-dollar business. During all that, husband Neal quit his sales job and became her business partner. Their communication was forced to improve. "It just makes a world of difference, not just in our business relationship while we're here at the office, but with our personal lives as well," he said. This is the now the factory floor in Spring, automated bottling. And the product line has expanded to include more body creams and lotions. The One Minute line is now sold internationally and Rosie Herman has received several Businesswoman of the Year awards. Hers is a success story and she tells it to inspire other women that they too can create their own empires. "We tend to, 'I think I can't do it.' Then you need to be around those positive people, and if you aren't around them then you need to find them," she said. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Local Tips and Conversation Starters For Business Travelers in Houston

The SBA Resource Guide for Houston can be a great source of information on local regulations and contacts.

There is no state or local income tax for individuals. There is, however, a corporate income tax of $2.50 per $1,000 of taxable capital. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, and the local sales tax rate is 2.0%.

According to city-data.com, Houston's five largest employers are Shell Oil, Harris County, Exxon Mobil, the City of Houston, and JP Morgan Chase.

Located near the Gulf of Mexico, Houston's climate is mostly humid, with generally mild temperature ranges. The city is susceptible to hurricane activity.

Petrochemicals, oil and gas supply equipment, steel, industrial gases, cement, and synthetic rubber are some of the commodities produced in the Houston area. Financial services, information systems, and scientific research are also prominent in the area's economy.

TRADITIONS

Celebrating the legend of Sam Houston and the Battle of San Jacinto is an important Houston tradition, considering that the city was named after the man who led the Texans in winning their independence from Mexico and paved the way for Texas to become part of the United States.

When presented with barbecued ribs, hot sauce, crab cakes, or locally grown anything, pronounce it the best you ever tasted. Likewise, if you get an invitation to have a steak at Brenner's Steakhouse, or Texas Creole cooking at Brennan's of Houston, don't turn it down. Local dishes are a staple of the Houston experience.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a source of pride for Houstonians - they get to show off the best of the old ranching traditions in true Texas style. Everyone gets to have all the fun they can handle for three weeks as they enjoy the parade, the concerts, the petting zoos, and the carnival atmosphere. The World's Champion Bar-B-Que Contest is an event all by itself, and the livestock show is the largest show of its kind in America. Even if you never knew the difference between bull riding and bronco riding, you'll be on the edge of your seat during Rodeo Houston.

SPORTS

NFL Football: Houston Texans (at Reliant Stadium)

NBA Basketball: Houston Rockets (at the Toyota Center)

MLB Baseball: Houston Astros (at Minute Maid Park)

AHL Hockey: Houston Aeros (at the Toyota Center)

MLS Soccer: Houston Dynamo (at Robertson Stadium)

If you like watching baseball from the comfort of your bedroom, try something new. Next time the Houston Astros play a home game, go to the Alden-Houston Hotel, make sure they give you room 1008, and open the drapes. You'll be able to watch the game in person without having to leave the bed.

TRIVIA

"Inside the Loop" or "outside the Loop" can either refer to the I-610 beltway or to whether or not something is in style, depending on the nature of the conversation.

Most Mexicans who travel will visit Houston at some point.

The region is so diverse in population that there is no racial majority in Houston.

Considering all the money that flows through Houston, the city is still below the national average in terms of cost of living.

Howard Hughes, Sr., was the man who invented the rotary drill bit which made all that oil drilling possible.

Eric Devlin is the Owner and President of Premier Transportation, one of the leading Texas limousine companies. Having been in business for over 10 years, he has served stars such as Trent Resner, Jay Leno, Don Henley, and Axel Rose. Offering high-end limousine services to and from the DFW airport, as well as rentals for all special occasions, Premier provides safe, convenient, courteous, and reliable limousine services in Houston [http://www.premierofdallas.com/houston.htm] and surrounding areas. To learn more or inquire about our limo services, visit Premier Transportation's website.

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