Katy Neighborhood Hit with Multiple Vehicle Break-ins in One Night

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

July 29, 2021

By Natalie Cook Clark

A Katy neighborhood experienced multiple vehicle break-ins in one night. Several neighbors caught the suspects on home security cameras as they searched vehicles for items to steal.

Video screenshot from Maurese Nelson.

Multiple Vehicles Burglarized

Many Elyson community residents woke up yesterday to find that their vehicles had been searched by thieves overnight. Some residents were lucky to have nothing taken, except evidence of their cars being ransacked, others reported items missing from credit cards to shoes.

Summer Months A Risky Time for Vehicle Burglary

Elyson is a fast-growing and popular community north of I-10 near 99 and 529.

“The summer months are historically one of the riskiest times of the year for vehicle burglary and theft in Texas,” says Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Neighbors quickly notified Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Home security cameras caught the suspects in the act as they went house to house in search of unlocked cars.

Various videos show two men. One wearing a black hoodie with shorts and another wearing a white hoodie.

Katy resident Kemp Cannon’s home security camera captured footage between 3:23 a.m. and 3:29 a.m. Wednesday morning when one of the men entered his vehicle.

“All he got was a flashlight,” says Kemp Cannon. “You can see some of his face while using said flashlight.”

Video provided by Kemp Cannon.

While the suspects did search some vehicles and not take anything, they did burglarize multiple vehicles. Items stolen include credit cards, a Canon camera, shoes, airpods, a watch, and more.

“We let ourselves get comfortable outside of Chicago. Lock your doors people,” says Maurese Nelson. His vehicle was searched but the suspects didn’t take anything from him.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, thieves stole 84,170 vehicles in Texas during 2020. In some jurisdictions, more than half of the vehicles stolen had unlocked doors and keys left inside.

No vehicles were stolen last night from the Elyson community.

"These are crimes of opportunity," says Sgt. Eduardo Rivera with HCSO. "They are looking for laptops, guns, items they can sell. Anything they can grab quickly."

Sgt. Rivera stresses the department's campaign, "If you like it, lock it!"

Harris County Sheriff’s Office offers simple tips to protect your vehicle and anything inside.

Don't be a Victim

Always lock your vehicle and take your keys.
Never leave your car unattended while it is running.
Park in a well-lit area.
Take valuables with you when you are not in your vehicle or keep them out of sight.
Give parking attendants the ignition key only.
Install an anti-theft device.

A police report has been filed and deputies with Harris County Sheriff’s Office are investigating. One resident reported that her husband’s credit card and it was used at a gas station.

Authorities advise residence to always lock up their vehicles.