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: Ford Trucks 155 Chevrolet Trucks 151 Honda Cars 123 Dodge Trucks 64 Chevrolet Cars 45 GMC Trucks 44 Toyota Cars 27 Dodge Cars 26 Ford Cars 24 Buick Cars 21 HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Several cars are sitting bare at a car dealership in northwest Houston after thieves took off with the tires. It happened along the North Freeway at DeMontrond. Police say a group of thieves broke into the dealership and stole the tires off the new cars.
Authorities are still looking for the criminals, who are believed to have run off into the woods.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »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 »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.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local » 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 August, 2012 Ford Trucks 196Chevrolet Trucks 182Honda Cars 97Dodge Trucks 80Chevrolet Cars 46GMC Trucks 43Nissan Cars 42Toyota Cars 37Ford Cars 26Dodge Cars 20Several of the Bellaire FFA students still plan to compete against others across the state this weekend, but now they have to find another way to get their 11 cattle there. Thieves ripped off their brand new trailer and loaded it up with hay and feed before letting all the cattle out of the fence.
Dusty is preparing for a little scrub down. He's one of six cattle left wandering a busy road after thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment and feed from the Bellaire FFA barn.
"He definitely could have died, if there was a car and they weren't paying attention," student Courtney Gonzalez said.
Less than three weeks ago, the Bellaire FFA acquired a 20-foot aluminum livestock trailer, it still had paper plates on it. It was parked near the barn. Then sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning, thieves broke onto the property, hooked up the trailer and then loaded it with student hay and feed.
"They snapped the lock off the storage container here, opened it up, and from that point, they just helped themselves to the feed and the hay that was in here," Bellaire High School ag teacher Mark Peak said.
They had to immediately restock the hay and feed for the animals to consume. What's even more disappointing, is that whoever stole the trailer, is in the same line of work as the FFA students.
"The bond, the brotherhood has been violated. And that's kind of the most disappointing thing in my mind. Whoever took the trailer, had to be in the industry," Peak said.
A police report had been filed and between the trailer, hay and feed the students are looking at a $16,000 loss. They hope someone recognizes the trailer and calls authorities.
"We're doing this for good and it's not like we deserve to get this stolen from us," Gonzalez said.
They do have insurance. However, the trailer won't be replaced before this weekend, so they are checking with other organizations to see if they can borrow one for the Washington County fair in Brenham this weekend.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »The store says the thieves were looking for guns Friday. But instead of buying them, they broke into cars parked outside of Tactical Firearms on South Mason Road. They may have thought they made a clean getaway, but now authorities have evidence that could help catch the criminals.
"So you've got the lookout vehicle pulling into the parking lot right now," Tactical Firearms owner Jeremy Alcede said, as surveillance video showing the parking lot rolls.
And not too far behind was a silver Nissan Altima with a suspected car burglar inside. The Ford Edge backs into a spot, allowing him to be on the lookout. The Altima starts scoping cars to burglarize.
First is a Ford pickup, but when he gets out and peeps through the window, there's nothing to steal. Eventually, a Toyota truck is broken into. Two guns are stolen from the back seat.
And the suspect is not done. He also shatters the window of a Suburban, stealing a briefcase.
Alcede says gun stores are under fire.
"I called AJC, since they are right down the road, advised them. That's when they told us that they were broken into already. And so we since then notified all the other gun stores to keep an eye out for these vehicles," Alcede said.
And they can also keep an eye out for the man in the white Ford Edge. He served as lookout. He actually walked inside, asked a question and left with a brochure. His polo hat and shirt are plain as day.
Alcede says gun stores seem like easy lifting for thieves.
"It's a target-rich environment. You know, if you come to a gun store, you're either coming to shoot or buy a gun," he said.
Now he's hoping someone recognizes the Ford Edge with Florida plates 702-LAI and the Altima with a Texas-style license plates.
As for the thieves, Alcede wouldn't advise them to return.
"If they come back it's going to end up differently," he said.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is now on the lookout for the truck. And of course investigators would love to know who this man is our guy in the lookout vehicle who had to walk in the store.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local » HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's just about a week left to do your last minute Christmas shopping and while you're looking for a good deal, thieves may be looking to make you their next target. Today is Super Saturday. It comes with huge savings and deep discounts.
By some estimates, is the busiest shopping day of the year -- even exceeding Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
But while you're looking for a steal, there are some people looking to steal from you.
Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables will be out in full force at residential and business areas throughout north Harris County. The holiday initiative will be in place over the next couple of weeks.
Shoppers are warned to not leave purses or other valuables visible in their vehicles and to take someone with them when they shop.
"Certainly as crime attracts itself to the holiday season, people are looking for opportunities for attacking our homes and shopping areas," Pct. 4 Constable Ron Hickman said. "We want to make sure we put as much available visibility and manpower out there to meet the need and to make sure we add to the comfort of our community at this time."
Officials offered tips for shoppers, including have your keys in your hand, don't leave packages visible in your car, don't leave your purse in your seat and do things to minimize yourself, your car or your home as a target.
(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »
Car thieves are always at work in Houston, targeting vehicles on their hit lists
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 reported stolen to the Houston Police Department during the month of November 2011. Ford trucks -- 138Honda cars -- 127Chevrolet trucks -- 122Dodge trucks -- 59Chevrolet cars -- 44Toyota cars -- 39Dodge cars -- 26 
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A break-in at a North Forest ISD school sparked a police chase overnight.
One man was arrested in the woods. A K-9 unit led police to a house where the second suspect was hiding inside an attic.
(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
Raymond Castillon Tamez, 18, of Houston (left) and Christopher Adrian Rodriguez, 29, of Houston, (right) are both charged with theft. FRIENDSWOOD, TX (KTRK) -- Two suspects were arrested Tuesday afternoon after a caller reported to police that two men were attempting to steal a trailer from Paintball Zone at 2811 Dixie Farm Road. Police received the call around 1:22pm. Officials say the caller blocked the driveway of the business with a vehicle to prevent the suspects from exiting the property, and relayed the suspects' description and vehicle information to police. The suspects drove along a pipeline in an effort to get away. Police say the first officer on the scene watched as one of the men, using a set of red bolt-cutters, attempted to cut a lock on a gate in order to exit the property. The plainclothes officer ordered both men to lie on the ground. Once a uniformed back up unit arrived, the officer jumped the gate and detained the men.
Christopher Adrian Rodriguez, 29, of Houston, and Raymond Castillon Tamez, 18, of Houston were caught red-handed attempting to steal a trailer, police say. The two men claim to be relatives.
According to police, Rodriguez allegedly offered Tamez cash to help him steal the trailer. They covered the rear license plate of the truck with a towel to avoid identification and then hooked up the trailer to the truck. When the complainant arrived on the scene and blocked the driveway, the suspects detached the trailer and attempted to flee. That is when they were taken into custody by Friendswood police.
Rodriguez and Tamez are charged with felonty theft. Both suspects are being held at the Friendswood City Jail. Bond has not been set.
(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »