“Driveway Robber” and “Auto Thief” Now Parked in Jail

August 22, 2007 - Kudos to Robbery Division, Fondren Division’s Tactical and Crime Analysis Units

A 16 year-old male suspect arrested and referred to the Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities on August 3 is believed responsible for up to 15 robberies in southwest Houston. The “driveway robberies” began at the end of June and continued through the end of July, and occurred primarily in District 17 (Fondren). The suspect would surprise the victims in their driveways, or in some instances, at the back door of the residence and rob them at gunpoint. In some cases, the suspect would steal the victim’s vehicle and later use that vehicle to commit other robberies. A combined effort between the Westside Robbery Division and the Fondren Division’s Tactical and Crime Analysis Units culminated in the arrest of the juvenile suspect. After numerous interviews and follow up investigations, these officers were able to share information and identify the suspect. The suspect has since been charged in seven of these robbery incidents. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was found to be in possession of stolen property from some of the robberies. The following locations and dates are believed to be some of the robberies involving the suspect:

6/29: 7800 Quail Meadow- Stole victim’s blue Chevrolet Malibu.
6/29: 11800 Meadow Place- Stole victim’s wallet
6/30: 5600 Drake Stone- Property stolen from this victim was found inside the stolen Chevrolet Malibu when that vehicle was recovered, later on Dawnridge.
6/30: 8900 Dawnridge- Stole victim’s green Toyota Camry and left stolen Chevrolet Malibu.
7/1: 10900 Fondren- Suspect stole victim’s purse and was seen leaving in green Toyota Camry
7/1: 7900 Albin- Suspect stole victim’s wallet
7/17: 8900 Deer Meadow- Stole victim’s red Mitsubishi Montero sports utility vehicle
7/20: 7600 Ludington- Suspect stole victim’s purse and was seen leaving in silver four-door vehicle
7/20: 10900 Paulwood- Victim robbed at back door of residence. Suspect seen leaving in silver four-door vehicle.
7/27: 8900 Deer Meadow- Suspect stole victim’s purse and was seen leaving in silver Chevrolet vehicle.

Special Operations Division:

During the month of July, officers assigned to the Special Operations Division noticed an increase in the number of auto thefts occurring in the Memorial Park area. These officers began to investigate the incidents and subsequently set up surveillance at the park in hopes of arresting the suspect(s). At about 8 a.m. on July 24, an officer patrolling Memorial Park, and aware of the investigation, observed a suspicious vehicle drive into the area where the previous auto thefts occurred. He alerted other officers in the area and they checked the vehicle’s license plate on a patrol car computer and learned that the vehicle was reported stolen. The suspect was arrested and during the investigation of the stolen vehicle, officers recovered property stolen from the victims of the other auto thefts. The suspect subsequently confessed to stealing four vehicles from the Memorial Park area and one from Hermann Park.

Once again, these are only two examples of the outstanding work the officers in the Houston Police Department are doing on a daily basis to help put criminals in jail and make our city safer.

GO/JFC/BW 8-22-07

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.