Three Suspects Arrested, Charged in Home Burglaries

July 6, 2007 - Investigators in the Houston Police Burglary and Theft Division have arrested three suspects believed responsible for burglarizing up to 10 homes in a newly built subdivision on the south side of the city.

The suspects, two adult males and one juvenile male, are in custody and have admitted to their roles in some of the incidents. The adults are identified as Xavier Cordell Darrett (b/m, DOB 9-14-87) and Terrence Leamaurice Jelks (b/m, DOB 11-10-85). Darrett is charged with two counts of burglary of a habitation and Jelks is charged with one count of burglary of a habitation. All charges are filed in the 176th State District Court. The third suspect, a 16-year-old male, is being referred to Harris County Juvenile Probation authorities on a charge of burglary of a habitation.

Ten homes in the newly-built Skyview Forest Subdivision near Highway 288 and Almeda Road were burglarized between March 29 and June 22. In each incident, suspects were kicking front or back doors to gain entry and stealing plasma televisions and/or other electronics.

Investigators obtained a surveillance tape from one of the homes showing three young black males kicking in the front door about 10:15 a.m. on June 22. The suspects attempted to remove a plasma television mounted on a wall, but were unable to do so. They then fled in a late 1980s or early 90s maroon Oldsmobile. Later that afternoon, investigators were informed of a possible license plate on the vehicle and were told the vehicle was an Oldsmobile Delta 88. After trying several combinations of license plates for such a vehicle, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Motor Vehicle Theft Service assisted investigators in getting a correct license plate.

Following checks of vehicle registrations, investigators set up surveillance on the vehicle, outside the home of suspect Darrett, on June 29. As undercover officers followed the suspects’ vehicle, the driver (Jelks) committed numerous traffic violations. An HPD marked patrol vehicle then pulled the suspects’ vehicle over in the 6800 block of Rookin. Both Darrett and Jelks were arrested without further incident. The third suspect, a juvenile, surrendered to investigators on Thursday (July 5).

Both adult suspects initially denied any involvement in the burglaries, but then confessed to their roles in at least two of the house burglaries. The suspects further admitted they were part of an organized group that committed residential burglaries and they would sell the stolen items on the streets or take them to another individual to sell.

Anyone with information on other possible suspects in these cases is urged to contact the HPD Burglary and Theft Division at 713-308-0900 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

JFC/DES 7-6-07

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