WANTED: HARRIS COUNTY CELL STORE CROOKS

Investigators throughout Harris County are searching for the suspects who have terrorized local cellular retailers over the course of the past year.  Armed with the brazen confidence that their masked faces and precision technique will keep them out of jail, hoards of thieves have victimized stores across a 1700 square mile area. 

“We have these thugs in our midst, and we want them in the Harris County Jail.” States Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.  “We want you to use your phone to drop a dime on these cell phone thieves.”

Sheriff Garcia took the podium during a Crime Stoppers news conference on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, to address the multiple burglaries throughout our region.  Offenders have targeted cell phone stores between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 am.  Spending only minutes inside the businesses, criminals have displayed little concern for the alarm systems activating. 

Between July 2011 and June 2012, at least eighty one incidents have occurred.  At a rate of one offense every four days, these criminals have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss to the retailers.

Due to the dramatic impact these crime impose, Crime Stoppers has announced an increased reward in the cases.  Up to $15,000 dollars is being offered for information leading to the filing of felony charges or the arrest of the suspects involved. “We are proud to offer this increased reward in partnership with our area retail partners, and our partner Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia,” remarked Crime Stoppers Executive Director Katherine Cabaniss.

In a twist of criminal irony, Garcia hopes that the very cell phones stolen by these suspects will be essential in identifying and arresting them.  Promoting the Harris County Sheriff’s smart phone app “IWATCH Harris County” as a direct link to submitting tips to Crime Stoppers, Sheriff Garcia insisted that twenty first century technology can lead to the suspect’s apprehension.  “Every day, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is creating new partnerships and innovations to keep us safe,” said Garcia. 

Anyone with information about the identity of any of the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).  Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).  All tipsters remain anonymous.