Thief Caught in the Act

[puma guy]

My Dad was laid to rest yesterday at the Houston National Cemetery (I posted earlier regarding his passing ("Another of the Greatest Generation Gone-My Dad") . We had a wreath placed on the door of his veterinary clinic noting his death. Today a neighbor called my wife to inform her that someone appeared to be taking things from the back and putting them in a truck. I was only about three blocks away when I got the call so I drove over and readied my phone to call 911. When I arrived there was a truck backed into the portico where my mom would park to enable my dad to access the wheel chair ramp to his clinic. The bed was full of aluminum and metal cage pans we'd stored after demoing an out building in January. I had my Kahr in my front pocket with my hand on gripping it and told him he had no business there and to get on the ground. I had already hit send for 911 and when the guy didn't get down fast enough my brother who was with me in the best impersonation of a police officer I've ever heard screamed "Get on the ground, Now!"
The guy looked at me and then down at my right pocket and hit the ground as he dropped the piece of copper tubing he'd ripped off a sink. He knew the drill an had his arms extended in above his head while he was prone.

First officer arrived and ask me for ID and what affiliation I had with the property. I gave him both TDL and CHL, told him I never displayed my weapon and told him where it was . I told him the circumstances, that my dad had passed and we were his sons. He took my ID then appoached the actor as another officer arrived. Together they handcuffed, searched him and questioned him. The officers asked us to identify the items in the truck and estimate the value and if we wanted to press charges. "Oh Yeah! Definitely!" They put him in the squad car and as we waited for the tow truck we made small talk about my Dad's 61 year practice in Pasadena, he asked if I'd ever been stopped. I knew what he meant and replied no. He told me that when he stops CHL's he waives the ticket unless it's really bad. I said I hope that happens to me, but that's not why I have my CHL. Having had a pistol in my face twice I told him it won't happen again if I can help it. Then he saw my 100 Club sticker, so I told him why I joined and that my Dad was a member as well. He was very supportive of CHL and said he appreciates that there may come a day he needs assistance and is glad there's a chance he'd get it.

Dirt Bag goes to Jail and CHL'er (me) gets positive feedback. My Dad's smiling!

[WildBill]

Dirt Bag goes to Jail and CHL'er (me) gets positive feedback. My Dad's smiling!

Wow, it's been quite a week for you. Again, condolences for your father. I am glad that you had an observant neighbor and that you caught the bad guy. Good work.

[puma guy]

Dirt Bag goes to Jail and CHL'er (me) gets positive feedback. My Dad's smiling!

Wow, it's been quite a week for you. Again, condolences for your father. I am glad that you had an observant neighbor and that you caught the bad guy. Good work.

Thanks. When I went to thank the neighbor she told the guy had been there Wednesday and made a big haul, but she didn't know if he had permission or not. She called my daughter's phone, but we were at the cemetery and all our phones were off. I wasn't aware she'd called the day of his service or any of the details.My daughter never expected he'd come back and she didn't want to upset us. It's probably a good thing! The Kahr may have come out before I called 911.

[lonewolf]

There are those BG's that watch the obituaries closely, as they can get enough information to track down a potential target location easily. I'd wager this wasn't these guy's first rodeo.......My sincere condolences on the passing of your father, and sincere thanks to the neighbor and yourself for facilitating the removal of some more detritus from the streets (the bad guys).

[speedsix]

...common to be burglarized while at the funeral...or wedding...some BGs can actually read and process info...so glad you caught this one...sorry for the loss of your Dad...never a good age...only had mine till I was 13 1/2...

[seamusTX]

I'm sorry for the loss of your father and then having this kind of insult added to it. It sounds like a textbook termination of a crime with no one getting hurt.

...piece of copper tubing he'd ripped off a sink.

In addition to the crime being burglary, this is another felony.

Not to be a pessimist or anything, but the guy most likely will bond out unless he is already on parole or probation. Even then judges sometimes give low bail (for reasons beyond my comprehension).

Stay safe.

- Jim

[puma guy]

I'm sorry for the loss of your father and then having this kind of insult added to it. It sounds like a textbook termination of a crime with no one getting hurt.

...piece of copper tubing he'd ripped off a sink.

In addition to the crime being burglary, this is another felony.

Not to be a pessimist or anything, but the guy most likely will bond out unless he is already on parole or probation. Even then judges sometimes give low bail (for reasons beyond my comprehension).

Stay safe.

- Jim

Thanks for your condolences. I just got back from meeting a detective working the case. I was unaware of copper theft being a special case now. I got a call early this morning to meet and the detective explained he was upping the charge from felony tresspass to copper theft. He said copper is now a precious metal under the law and he's on a special mission (undercover) to prosecute even the smallest cases because it's so rampant. I'll have to read up on that to see what the punisment may be. The officers yesterday couldn't find any priors, but today the detective informed me the actor was born in Mexico and he had to dig to find an FBI number and he had been in jail prior to this. A small world detail; the detective's wife graduated from TAMU and was accepted to vet school, but decided to become a dentist instead.

[seamusTX]

I'll have to read up on that to see what the punisment may be.

State jail felony. 180 days to 2 years plus $10,000 fine.

It is upped to a third-degree felony if it is a second theft offense.

This is PC 31.03(e)(4)(F) and 12.35.

- Jim

[Kawabuggy]

My condolences on the passing of your father.

[TexasGal]

Man that is low (even for scum) to steal from grieving familes.

I'm so glad you caught the guy. I know your dad is proud too.

[Keith B]

Unfortunately most thieves have no conscious at all, hence their profession. They have no scruples and no compassion. Still, targeting a home or family while gone to a funeral, especially the funeral of a Veteran is very low for anyone.

The issue of thieves targeting homes when people are away is a very old one. Since weddings and funeral service times and dates are usually listed in the papers, these thieves have a ready made calendar for knowing when a home will potentially be empty. They even mark up their calendars months ahead knowing that there will probably be wedding gifts at a home when everyone is gone to the ceremony and reception.

When my wife and I got married I was a Reserve LEO with our local PD. We had an old guy that had been a member of the police reserves for a lot of years and was the nicest old man you could ever know, but bless his heart he never was allowed to carry a gun because he could never qualify. However, if you told him to go watch a parking meter and report in if anyone tried to mess with it, he would sit there for days doing his job. We hired him to sit at my In-Laws house during the rehearsal dinner and wedding day/reception to make sure there was someone there if anyone came snooping around.

[seamusTX]

One of my aunts was burglarized that way during her husband's funeral, about 30 years ago. What's shocking is back then before you could easily look up names and addresses on the internet, it had to be someone who knew the family.

After that a couple of older boys or young men were assigned to stay in the house and create a visible presence. I was always concerned that they were not sufficiently prepared for what might happen. However, any sneak thieves were apparently deterred.

- Jim

[RoyGBiv]

My condolences again to you and your family...

I think you showed excellent restraint in this situation...
Hopefully the trashbag will get everything he deserves.

[OldCurlyWolf]

If any of what was stolen was in a building the proper charge would be burglary, a 3rd degree felony. Should get 2-5 in the big house. If It had been a house, burglary of a habitation, up it one degree and more jail time. Usually 2-10.

[2up1down]

I'm sure your Father is smiling and quite proud of his Sons.
May peace find your family.