Weapons stolen during home invasion in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A homeowner in northwest Harris County fell victim to armed burglars Friday morning.

According to the constable's office, the crime rate in the Ponderosa subdivision is not high. There were no recorded burglaries last month, according to the chief deputy constable there, and only two in November. But none of that matters to the man who was targeted on Friday morning. He talked to Eyewitness News, but he doesn't want to be identified.

"I look over just in time to see all of them get out with their guns in their hands, and they're pointing them right at me," he said. "They said, 'Get in the house.'"

Four men wearing masks, and one of the guns was pointed at the family dog.

The victim recalled, "I said, "Please don't shoot that dog. That dog is not aggressive. She's a great dog.' And he said, 'Well, then put her in the back yard.'"

That's when the victim says the ransacking operation began. Electronics and what little jewelry he had were all taken. And there were the guns. The robbers got away with about half a dozen. A locked gun case with shotguns still inside was discarded as the men jumped in a waiting car.

"It wasn't fun watching it," the victim told Eyewitness News. "One guy had a constant gun on me the whole time. I was pretty much focused on him, looking down the barrel of his gun. He kept screaming, 'I'm going to shoot you. I'm going to shoot you.'"

The house has been hit before. The last time, this contractor says his tools were stolen. But this is different. It's personal and he doesn't want it to happen again, and he says he wants to move, but he doesn't know where.

Four male suspects were described only as being somewhat young, last seen making their getaway in a white compact sedan. Anyone with information on who they may be is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
___________________________________________________________

Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices

(Copyright ©2013 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, deborah wrigley

View the original article here

Salvation Army red kettle stolen outside Deerbrook Mall

HUMBLE, TX (KTRK) -- The search is on for a brazen thief who took off with a Salvation Army red kettle. The crime happened outside a mall in Humble. As investigators try to close in on the suspect, the Salvation Army is working hard to prove the thief can't steal any holiday cheer.

Every holiday season for the past five years, Larry Arnold has been ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.

"It's a fun activity," he said. "I like to help people out."

He's only had a positive experience at his post outside Dillard's. But last week, on a day he wasn't working, someone stole the red kettle with about $200 inside.

"Last week, they pulled one of the guys, when I was off, they brought him to one of the stores and they told him one of the kettles was snatched," Arnold recalled.

While stealing red kettles isn't unheard of, the Houston area Salvation Army told us it decided to take the bell ringer working at that time off the job, though the organization would only say it did so out of an abundance of caution.

Salvation Army area direction Major Chris Flanagan said, "There was no foul play. When we do any of that, we talk to the person who was manning the kettle. We try to get the details of how this came about."

Mumble Police Detective David Scott was just assigned this case, so he has no leads, and only a vague description of the suspect.

"The description given was a black male in his 20's with a long goatee, and wearing a black hoodie," Det. Scott said. "The vehicle was described as a tan Chevy Malibu."

So while the Salvation Army waits and the police investigates, for the people who do try to fill the kettles with holiday cheer, this is not a holiday message they wanted to see.

Donor Jo Hanson said, "I try to think maybe they really, really needed it, but it doesn't cut it anymore. No, they're just selfish."

The bell ringer who was working when the theft allegedly happened is no longer working with the Salvation Army, although the organization would only say it is them being extra cautious while the investigation continues.

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

local, miya shay

View the original article here

Houston special agents seize stolen 16th century tapestry

The tapestry depicts the Virgin Mary and Saint Vincent of Saragossa.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents last month seized a 16th century tapestry stolen from Spain, under the National Stolen Property Act.

The tapestry was seized in November from a local business under an HSI initiative called "Hidden Relic." This initiative is designed to investigate, recover and repatriate stolen cultural property.

"HSI understands the cultural and historical significance of protecting a country's treasures," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of HSI Houston. "Our special agents are at the forefront of the effort to identify and return these important items to their lawful owners in the same way we would want our global partners to return America's artifacts in the event they were ever stolen."

The Government of Spain requested assistance to seize the property, indicating that the tapestry was stolen in December 1979 from the cathedral in Roda de Isabena, Spain.

The tapestry depicts the Virgin Mary and Saint Vincent of Saragossa. It was produced in the 16th century and was part of the cathedral's collection that was declared a national monument by royal decree in 1924.

In January 2010, the tapestry was displayed for sale at the Brussels Antiques and Fine Arts Fair (BRAFA) in Brussels, Belgium. It subsequently sold at auction for $369,000 to a business in Houston. The Spanish Civil Guard's Heritage Protection Group learned of the sale. After investigating, it obtained a court order, and under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) requested assistance in recovering the stolen property.

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

local

View the original article here

Houstonians step in to help Georgia family whose car tires were stolen by thieves

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Laura Smith says she was so overwhelmed that she just started crying when she walked outside and saw that thieves had stolen all the tires off her family's car.

It happened Monday night morning at a motel near Buffalo Speedway and the South Loop. So far this year, there have been 87 thefts in that area, but this one was different, which is why so many strangers are offering to help the Smith family.

From Facebook messages to emails and a lot of phone calls, the family quickly learned they aren't alone here in Houston.

When the Smiths started out on their journey from Georgia to M.D. Anderson here in Houston, it was tough. They had to leave three of their children to get 19-year-old Grace to the world-class Texas Medical Center.

"She's in great spirits," Laura said.

Grace is battling sarcoma, an aggressive cancer. Doctors removed a 10-pound tumor but more have formed since then.

When Laura left the hotel Wednesday morning it was one more devastating blow.

"Why would somebody put bricks up under our car and then it dawned on me. I was like, 'Oh my gosh," Laura said.

Thieves had left them with no wheels to get back to the hospital.

But as word spread on the news and Facebook, the family couldn't believe the response.

"I've got a place you can stay, I'll bring you back and forth to your appointments, I've got a car you can borrow," Eric said of the offers he's received.

Across the country to here in the Houston area, a Pearland mom who has a son battling cancer, to a League City tire shop.

"We have small town values," Discount Tire League City manager Charlie Luker said.

Luker says a longtime customer contacted them and asked if they could help.

"It's a personal thing. If I was in that situation, I would hope someone would step up and help me out," Luker said.

Now the Smiths are back to having a car they can actually drive to see Grace through her chemotherapy.

"She's in faith, she's believing in her miracle and we are right there with her," Smith said.

And somehow what happened in that hotel parking lot has helped them feel good in their daughter's hospital room.

"The small amount of devastation that we had in this bad thing has totally been turned around to a very uplifting, hopeful situation that has been 10 times better," Laura said.

The family learned they'll be staying in Houston much longer than they initially expected to see through their daughter's treatment.

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

local, christine dobbyn

View the original article here

32,000 guns stolen in Houston; 7 percent recovered

  HOUSTON -- At least 32,000 guns have been stolen in the Houston area over the past five years and only 7 percent have been recovered, according to an analysis of police records published Sunday.

The stolen guns contribute to violent crime and have been used in at least 19 area murders -- and likely more, although records are incomplete.

"They could be still out on the street. They could be in criminals' hands. They just haven't been recovered. In other words, not all criminals will throw a gun down after they committed a crime and run off," said Franceska Perot, a spokeswoman for the Houston field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

"Houston is so close to Mexico, we do have guns that go to Mexico. So there could be people stealing guns and taking them across the border," she said.

The serial numbers of stolen guns are entered into the National Crime Information Center, a computerized index of criminal histories, fugitives, stolen property and missing persons. The database is accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The FBI says it includes more than 2.9 million guns, nearly 320,000 of them from Texas.

The Houston Police Department returned about 900 stolen weapons to their rightful owners in 2010 and another 1,000 last year. Spokesman John Cannon said the department "is committed to reducing the numbers of guns on our streets."

But he acknowledged it's "a daunting task in a city of more than 2 million residents. We arrest more than 100,000 individuals every year. A number of them are wanted on crimes committed with guns."

Records show police identified suspects or made arrests in only 8 percent of the cases in which guns were taken in robberies and burglaries.

Among those who had guns stolen are Terry and Charles McQueen. The Houston couple lost 18 shotguns, eight rifles and four pistols in a 2008 burglary. Four of the shotguns were worth at least $11,000 apiece, said Charles McQueen, who is a hunter.

The McQueens had the serial numbers, and authorities entered them into the database, but none of the weapons surfaced.

"It is surprising," McQueen said. "You would think at least one would pop its head up."

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here

Man arrested following alleged Craigslist caper involving stolen ATV

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man has been arrested following an alleged Craigslist caper. Deputies say the man stole an all-terrain vehicle, then tried to sell it on the website for thousands of dollars.

A Cypress man has a cautionary tale about doing business on Craigslist. Not only did he buy stolen property, but he also lost the four wheeler he was trying to trade.

Jordan Griffith was looking to trade up for his 2006 Yamaha YZF four wheeler. So back in April, he logged on to Craigslist, and went to the ATV section, found this blue 2011 Kawasaki Teryx and made a deal with the seller.

"It was my four wheeler and cash for the side by side, and the deal didn't go through," Griffith told Eyewitness News.

It didn't go through because he was dealing with 26-year-old J'Gerrard Drik Thibedeaux. As of September 3, he was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation for stealing the Teryx out of a garage.

Thibedeaux then posted it for sale on Craigslist. Without knowing, Griffith met him for the transaction. When he received a phony title, he knew it was a scam.

"At that point, they switched ATVs. As the victim was leaving, he was given the title to the ATV, and when he opened the envelope and found out it was a blank piece of paper, he knew something was not right," said Deputy Thomas Gilliland with the Harris Co. Sheriff's Office.

Griffith took the Teryx home and called the Sheriff's Office to find the rightful owner. They ran the serial number and Griffith contacted the owner.

"I called the lady the next day, and it was actually stolen out of her garage," he said.

To make matters worse, Griffith still has not gotten back his 2006 Yamaha YZF he was trading. He said he saw it also posted on Craigslist for a cheap price almost instantly and has not seen it since.

"You got to know who you are dealing with. If it sounds sketchy and too good to be true, than most likely it's sketchy," Griffith said.

The other thing that will leave your head shaking here is that investigators say Thibedeaux, the suspect, stole that Kawasaki Teryx from his friend's garage. Since he has a criminal history, he's being held without bond.

You can read more on this story in The Atascocita Observer, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners online.

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

local, erik barajas

View the original article here

Reward offered in case of stolen Porsche found burned

A silver-colored 2006 Porsche Cayenne was found burning in a wooded area in the 1200 block of Pearland Parkway back on June 15.

  PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of a suspect or suspects after a luxury vehicle was found burning in a wooded field in Pearland last week.

Back on June 15 at around 6:20am, the silver-colored 2006 Porsche Cayenne was found burning in a wooded area in the 1200 block of Pearland Parkway. Investigators say the vehicle's owner reported that it was stolen from the parking lot of a business at 10555 Pearland Parkway.

Officials believe the vehicle was stolen between 4am and 6am that morning.

The Pearland Fire Marshal's Office is offering a $1,000 reward in the case. If you know anything about the reported theft and fire, contact them at 281-651-1954.

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

pearland, local

View the original article here

Suspected copper thief leads police on chase in stolen car

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say a crime spree by a copper thief is over after he was tracked down in a stolen KIA.

The chase ended on Memorial Drive just west of Dairy Ashford at 3am. We caught part of the short chase on our Houston Transtar JamCams as it went from the Beltway to the Katy Freeway and onto Memorial.

The driver suddenly stopped and was arrested while trying to make a run for it. Somehow, he hurt his head and had to get bandaged up before being hauled off downtown.

Police say he's been up to no good for days.

"They saw a suspicious Hispanic male driving an SUV, stealing silver caps off the water sprinklers -- brass caps -- I guess to to pawn," said officer Dennis Gonzales with the Houston Police Department.

The stolen vehicle was returned to the owners who had the vehicle stolen at an Exxon along the West Beltway.

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

local
// perform JavaScript after the document is scriptable.OTV.common.modules.promoCarousel.promoCarouselInit("/ktrk/xml?id=5758258&ptnr=promoCarousel");

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

View the original article here

TV star python stolen from Beaumont wildlife park

  BEAUMONT, TX -- At 16 feet long and 140 pounds, this "Banana" clearly isn't a typical fruit.

Instead, the aptly named "Banana," a yellow female albino Burmese python, is missing, the victim of an intruder to Gator Country, a Beaumont wildlife park.

Park co-owner Gary Saurage described his prized animal Monday as "docile as a puppy dog." And despite Banana's fearsome image, he says the snake is the one in danger.

It was obtained four years ago from someone who no longer could care for it. The animal has bluish clear eyes and is valued at $5,000.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies say the theft occurred sometime between the park's closure the evening of April 22 and its reopening on April 24.

The snake has been featured on CMT television's "Gator 911."

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here

Hundreds of guns stolen in professional burglaries

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Nearly 300 guns have been stolen from more than half a dozen pawn shops over the past several weeks, and authorities believe the burglaries are connected.

Last week, an accused trio of robbers was arrested in north Harris County -- Guillermo Andersen, Christian Carbajal and Jesus Rendon -- all allegedly caught on the roof and in the act of breaking into Jim Fullerton's pawnshop. Precinct 4 deputies responded.

"They go up on the roof and the three guys are just laying down up there and hoping for the best... trying to be as flat as possible," said Fullerton.

What gives the arrests added importance is a rash of pawn shop burglaries over the past six weeks and what was taken.

One burglary happened in Bryan, another in West Columbia and six in north Houston and Harris County. Combined 274 firearms were stolen. The ATF believes the three suspects arrested are part of a larger group and they're not believed to be beginners.

"This is an organized group without a doubt and we can back that up with our investigation," said Lt. Jeff Stauber with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

"They are not smash and grabs. These guys are organized. They are watching federal firearms licensees. Therefore licensees need to make sure cameras are operational, security systems up to date. We request public's assistance in recovering these guns," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Gary Orchowski.

Some of the surveillance video was released Thursday. The suspects wear masks, bring their own equipment to bring in through the roofs. The box truck and minivan have no visible license plates.

Gun thefts are not unusual in Texas, but 131 guns taken from one store is. And then there's this.

"Nearly 50 percent of all weapon are recovered within 25 miles of where they were taken. And again we have recovered only one firearm," said Orchowski.

That gun was recovered out of state. That means 273 other weapons are in circulation -- either out of state, country or here in Houston.

"There's a lot of weapons out there. In Harris County, we don't like stolen weapons on the street. So we need to get these things recovered," said Lt. Stauber.

In a couple of cases where the burglars couldn't get the guns, they took electronics and jewelry. But the immediate concern is the guns.

The agents and the deputies say they don't know where these stolen guns are and what they're being used for.

The three suspects in custody are facing organized crime and burglary charges. Detectives and federal agents believe four more suspects are out there, and that they will strike again.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect(s) in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

This story was brought to you through our partnership with Houston Community Newspapers. You can read more about the gun thefts in The Spring Observer.

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

crime tracker
// perform JavaScript after the document is scriptable.OTV.common.modules.promoCarousel.promoCarouselInit("/ktrk/xml?id=5758258&ptnr=promoCarousel");

(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

View the original article here

Top 10 stolen cars in Houston in December

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- When it comes to car thieves, certain types of vehicles are at the top of their wish list.

The following is a rundown of the "Top 10" makes of vehicles stolen during the month of December 2011. 1. Ford Trucks 141

2. Chevrolet Trucks 133

3. Honda Cars 116

4. Dodge Trucks 68

5. Toyota Cars 47

6. Chevrolet Cars 44

7. Ford Cars 38

8. GMC Trucks 35

9. Dodge Cars 26

10. Nissan Cars 23

Source: Houston Police Department (Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local

View the original article here

Copper stolen from new stadium for Sugar Land Skeeters

The stadium is still under construction. Opening day for the Sugar Land Skeeters is set for April 26th.

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- Police are looking for the thieves who stole several reels of copper which was to be installed at the new stadium being built for the Sugar Land Skeeters.

Workers discovered the copper missing from a storage room at Constellation Field on Friday, December 30. The reels of copper are worth approximately $25,000.

A source with knowledge of the incident says the thieves must have used heavy equipment to remove the reels from the site and haul them away.

The stadium is still under construction. Opening day for the Sugar Land Skeeters is set for April 26.

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

sugar land, local, kevin quinn

View the original article here

Car stolen with baby inside in Pasadena

  PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- A pickup truck with a baby inside was stolen Saturday night in Pasadena. The child has been recovered, but officials said the thief still has the truck.

According to officials, a 10-month-old girl was in the back seat of her mother's pickup when it was stolen Saturday night from their driveway in the 2700 block of Harvard at Preston near Pasadena Blvd.

The baby was soon found unharmed. The suspect dropped her off in a car seat on the side of the road in the 100 block of N. Witter near Strawberry Health Center, officials said.

Police are still searching for the suspect and the stolen vehicle -- a 2008 four-door Chevrolet Silverado with license plate number 20L-VV9. The truck has 21-inch chrome rims and blue halogen lights.

Anyone who sees the vehicle is asked to call Pasadena police.

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

local

View the original article here

Armored truck stolen during robbery at Kroger in the Heights

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search is on for the man who stole an armored truck at the Kroger in the Heights.

The FBI has been counting cash tonight to see how much was stolen during this heist, though they never release exact figures. It was a bold robbery in the middle of the afternoon, two against one, and at this busy gas station.

It's back to business at the Kroger Fuel Center on North Shepherd at 11th Street. Actually, business never really stopped. Pumps remained open despite gunfire in the parking lot that stopped Rosemary Perez right in her tracks.

"We heard three, then two seconds later, another three. It was six shots," Perez said.

She first ducked for cover behind the counter at the cleaners where she works across the street, and then when she looked up, saw the armored van speed off.

Authorities say two armored car guards came under fire shortly before 3pm Tuesday as they were making a delivery at the gas station. They exchanged gunfire with the robber. Stray bullets struck tires in the parking lot, but no one was hurt and the suspect managed to get away with the prize.

Minutes later, and just around the block, Houston police found the bullet-riddled van abandoned in the back of an apartment complex at 900 N. Durham where they think the armed robber transferred cash to a waiting car. K-9 units tried to track his scent while back at the gas station loved ones comforted the guards.

When they were through, they didn't answer questions.

Triple D Security, the company which operates the van, said they had no comment. And the guards had to tell their stories again elsewhere. They were taken away from the scene. While across the street, Rosemary Perez and her co-workers stood amazed that no one was hurt.

"It looked like he was just shooting at the van," said Teresa Torres.

The armored van had just finished a delivery at the Kroger before moving to the fuel center. There isn't a detailed description of the robber, but a reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information.

There were a few armored car robberies earlier this year and some remain unsolved. The FBI's Houston Area Bank Robbery Task Force is investigating to compare them to see if any are linked.

HPD is very familiar with this Kroger store, and it may seem familiar to you, too. That's because just a few weeks ago, Houston police invited the media to that Kroger for a press conference on safety. They spent that morning discussing what shoppers can do to avoid becoming crime victims. Then officers went from vehicle to vehicle, leaving notices on the windshields of those that were prime targets for thieves.

In addition, HPD has a storefront office directly across the street from the grocery store.

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

heights, local, jessica willey

View the original article here

Christmas gifts stolen from single mother

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- This time of year, homes, churches and community centers are filling up with presents for children. It's something thieves are very aware of and they are using that to their advantage.

Across our area this week, police say burglars have been busy stealing gifts and toys meant for children. And victims we talked to are urging families and churches to beef up security.

There's a big reason Christmas won't be the same at Felicia Cunningham's house this season.

"I just feel violated," Cunningham said.

The single mom says a burglar broke into her home at the Foundations at Woodland Apartments in Conroe this week, stealing many of the gifts waiting under the tree for her two young children.

"I never felt this way before in my life, and I didn't know what to do," she said.

Police say the crooks pried open the family's door while Cunningham was at work and her kids were at school. They say the picky thief took time to unwrap all the presents.

"They were selective with the Christmas gifts under the tree that they wanted. They opened gifts and they took gifts. The ones they didn't want, they left it and we saw that they unwrapped it," Cunningham said.

She is sending a strong message to burglars.

"Don't take from others. You never know what they are going through. And he definitely didn't know what I've been going through, so it's hard," Cunningham said.

Right now police don't have too many leads on the suspected burglars. They are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers in your area.

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

conroe, local, demond fernandez

View the original article here

Vases stolen from local cemetery

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Adding insult to injury, grieving families who visit one cemetery are fed up with metal thieves targeting graves.

Going to lay out Christmas decorations at a relative's grave site is how a family found out a bronze vase had been stolen. And the cemetery in question says it has been hit before.

"As you can see next to my father's grave, that was probably a vase right there, that was probably a vase right there, but those look like there were taken a long time ago," David Gonzalez said.

The Christmas decorations are up at his father's grave site, but the slot where a bronze vase stood is now an empty hole.

"Augustin Gonzalez is my dad; this plot is reserved for my mother," he said.

Over the last two weeks someone stole the vase that cost the family a few hundred dollars back in 2005. Gonzalez believes it's the work of metal thieves.

"Of course if I where here when he was here, I would be angry at him and I would stop him," Gonzalez said.

And if you take a look around, finding a bronze vase anywhere in Forest Park Cemetery off Lawndale is a task. Slot after slot is hollow, a sight other visitors are used to seeing.

"If you see a vase, it ain't going to be there very long. They come in at night, after dark, and there is an opening in the fence down there by the bayou," cemetery visitor Edward Race said.

And Gonzalez's father's grave backs right up to the bayou where the fence stops.

Forest Park Cemetery's general manager says stolen vases are an issue; 18 were swiped back in July 18.

As for Gonzalez, it's upsetting, but he thinks the empty slot might just have to stay that way.

"We're not going to replace the vase, period. It will be stolen again. A plastic one just doesn't cut it and a brass one is just too vulnerable," he said.

The general manager of Forest Park Cemetery says in most cases, if a client files a police report that they will replace the vase at 50 percent off.

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

local, erik barajas

View the original article here

Men in stolen car lead police on chase

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Bellaire police say two men in a stolen car fled on foot after leading police in a wrong way chase.

It began on Endicott at Bellaire and ended on South Braeswood near Hillcroft. Investigators say the car was registered as stolen, and police tried to pull it over. The driver fled and drove south on the northbound feeder to South Braeswood. They crashed into a tree near Hillcroft.

The suspects ran away and remain on the loose.

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

local

View the original article here

Stolen neighborhood Christmas tree may have been found

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A would-be Christmas Grinch may have not ruined plans for a holiday celebration in one Houston neighborhood after all.

Neighbors in Montrose's Hyde Park say their neighborhood Christmas tree suddenly disappeared just before neighbors were about to decorate.

But hours after Eyewitness News aired the story on Monday afternoon, residents say they were contacted by the person who took the tree that was located on the corner of Waugh and Hyde Park. That called claimed to have just been watching over it and plans on giving it back.

The 10-foot tree, which was valued at about $150, was donated by Greek restaurant Niko Niko's. The eatery already had already donated a second tree.

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

montrose, local
// perform JavaScript after the document is scriptable.OTV.common.modules.promoCarousel.promoCarouselInit("/ktrk/xml?id=5758258&ptnr=promoCarousel");

View the original article here

Man in stolen SUV leads police on chase

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police chased a man who they say stole an SUV.

It happened around 1am ending on Persimmon at Magna on the northeast side.

Police had pulled over the stolen SUV and put one of two suspects inside in handcuffs. But the other man jumped back in the vehicle and took off. He eventually crashed and police arrested him as well.

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

local

View the original article here

4 teens lead police on chase over possible stolen vehicle

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A group of teens trying to avoid police ended up crashing into a squad car instead.

Four young suspects were in police custody Saturday after leading police on a brief chase and then slamming into a deputy's patrol vehicle, officials said.

According to authorities, an off-duty police officer spotted a vehicle he believed was stolen in the parking lot of a Food Town at S. Kirkwood Rd. near Bissonnet St. in the Alief area.

The officer approached the car, which was being driven by a young female. She said her boyfriend was the one who got the car, officials said.

The girl contacted her boyfriend by cell phone and told him that she had a flat tire. When he arrived with his three friends, investigators say they spotted the cops around the car and tried to speed off through the Food Town parking lot.

Just down the road at Kalewood and Herald Square, a Precinct 5 Constable's Office deputy was set up in an effort to cut them off when his patrol vehicle was T-boned by the suspect's car.

The four teens were taken into custody and were being questioned by police Saturday night. The Pct. 5 deputy was not injured in the crash.

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

local

View the original article here