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.

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Chemical exposure testing underway for Freeport residents

FREEPORT, TX (KTRK) -- Hundreds of residents in the Freeport area are being asked to line up to be tested for possible metal exposure. A frightening thought for many families; it's the first step in determining whether residents may have been exposed to potentially hazardous pollutants from a nearby chemical plant.

Experts have started collecting samples for the voluntary test that will help the state figure out if residents are being exposed to high amounts of some metals.

Mary Galvan is a Freeport mother of four.

"Constantly I'm taking them to the doctor, wondering why are they always suffering allergies," she said.

Galvan was among those getting information early Thursday on tests which the state is conducting. It's collecting urine samples from those living in certain neighborhoods in an effort to determine if those living there are being exposed to excessive levels of cobalt, molybdenum and nickel. They've been found here in both the air and soil.

Dr. Carrie Bradford with the Department of State Health Services said, "I think if people are concerned, they should be tested. It's a chance for them to have a free test done to see what they have in their body."

While state officials have not said publicly where the metals originated, Gulf Chemical and Metallurgical Corporation admits it produces them as a byproduct of its operation. A company executive says it pled guilty to 11 felony charges in 2010 of violations of the Clean Water Act, paying a $2.5 million fine.

Three hundred samples will be chosen at random from those who participate in testing. The metals can cause skin, eye or airway irritation, and in some studies can cause cancer.

Mary Galvan characterizes her level of concern as "high."

"Ten! It's my children. I want to know what's going on with their health," she said.

You can pick up everything you need at the Freeport Historical Museum at 311 East Park. To participate you just have to have the sample returned by 6pm Sunday.

Collection will take place at the following times: May 3 from 4pm - 7pm May 4 from 10am - 7pmMay 5 from 10am - 7pm May 6 from 1pm - 6pm

Residents can pick up urine collection cups with sample collection instructions at the clinic and can drop off their urine samples for testing. No appointment is needed, however urine samples must be provided to DSHS staff before 6pm on May 6.

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Did Freeport get rattled by an earthquake?

FREEPORT, TX (KTRK) -- We've gotten several calls into our newsroom over the past 24 hours about a mystery in the Freeport area. On Tuesday, a lot of people -- even the city manager -- felt the ground shake. So was it a rare earthquake?

Nat Hickey has seen it all in Freeport -- except perhaps an earthquake.

"In 88 years, I've never even known of one in the area," Hickey said.

But one may very well have shaken Freeport and the surrounding area on Tuesday. At around 4:15 in the afternoon, the city manager felt something.

"All industry is safe, so you're thinking it's an earthquake; it makes you think it was. I never have been in an earthquake, but I know what the ground felt like," said Freeport City Manager Jeff Pyne.

The shaking lasted just a few moments, but enough to cause phones to ring throughout the area. The Freeport Fire Department checked with local plants to make sure there were incidents.

"We called all of our contacts to make sure everything was OK. The best guess is something happened, but nobody knows what," said Freeport Fire Chief Brian Davis.

Eyewitness News checked with the National Earthquake Information Center, which says it didn't record any seismic activity in the area. But that doesn't mean there wasn't an earthquake. It's gotten residents talking. And for 88-year-old Nat Hickey, it might finally be something he's never experienced.

"I'm not really aware of any... gee, any earthquake in this area would be real unusual to me," said Hickey.

Did you feel the ground shake in or near Freeport on Tuesday? If so, we want to hear about it. Join the conversation by going to our Facebook page, click the 'Like' button and leave your comments.

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