Search for Montrose area burglar who uses doggie doors

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A burglar squeezing into a doggie door to get his loot was caught on a hidden camera. And this isn't the first time it's happened in one local neighborhood.

It's happened at least twice in the past few weeks around West Gray and Montrose. But one has now been caught on camera.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Dolly the dog using the door designed just for her on Wednesday, rather a man with ulterior motives.

"He put his arms through here, and pushed the other part of the doggie door through and basically just knocked it out," said Ruth Woody.

She still can't believe a burglar squeezed through the doggie door in her Montrose home. But the security cameras captured it all -- the man going in and then leaving with a pillow case stuffed with an iPad, a camera, and jewelry.

"I wouldn't have thought you can easily do that," said Jennie Beech.

And it has happened before. Just down the street at Beech's home, which was also burglarized through the doggie door last month.

"He came in through the doggie door, and pretended nobody was there, and grabbed easy to grab items, like laptops and an iPad," Beech said.

A police report has been filed, but the homeowners are also active on the internet, posting the security images on social media sites like Flickr and Facebook. The idea is that the more people see it, the better chance the bad guys can get caught.

"The pictures were remarkable, and we're hoping one by one we can pick these guys off and make us feel less safe and uncomfortable," said Viula Torgerson, "Heights Life" blogger.

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

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Man detained in Montrose area doggie door burglaries no longer a suspect

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The video of a man trying to break into a Montrose home through the doggie door has gone viral and investigators came close to a break in the case on Friday.

It was just a day ago when images of a man breaking into a house through the doggie door hit the internet. Heights Life blogger Viula Torgerson posted it on her Facebook page and it immediately hit a nerve.

"I think this had the voyeuristic aspect, and people can see themselves, their own doggie door," Torgerson said.

On Friday morning, an alert Heights area mom saw a man similar to the images near the Fiesta on Studewood and called police.

"Today I was driving and I saw him, and I was thinking that's him turned around and called 911 and followed him," said Lori, who doesn't want her name last name used.

Lori followed the man until police arrived and arrested him. Nearby, David Jasso was watering his plants and he too noticed the man.

"I saw them on TV talking about the doggie door and when I saw him passing by through here, I said, 'Well, that sure looks like him,'" said resident David Jasso.

For several hours, it appeared like the doggie door burglar may have been caught.

But late Friday afternoon came a letdown. Police investigators who questioned the suspect have determined that he's no longer a suspect in the doggie door burglary.

Houston police would not comment on whether the man arrested may be wanted for other crimes, though they do say the man seen in the surveillance images is still on the loose. So alert moms like Torgerson, will still need to keep an eye out.

"It doesn't matter if you're in Montrose, or Heights, we're all in this together," said Torgerson.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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montrose, heights, local, miya shay
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