HOUSTON—The Clinton Park neighborhood in east Houston has been home for Mary Lewis’ family since 1941.
"Because of time and people getting older the neighborhood has gone down, but that doesn’t mean this neighborhood doesn’t have good, decent people living here," Lewis said.
For the first time in more than 70 years, someone broke into Lewis’ home. More frightening, Lewis’ 97-year-old mother was sleeping inside. In all, three televisions were taken.
"They didn’t do anything, but if she would have gotten up, I know with her feistiness, she would have approached them and she could’ve been killed," Lewis said.
She is fearful, but refused to let the frightening situation stop her from seeking justice.
"I’m speaking for the whole community after speaking with different people that this is not the first time that this has happened. Over 20 houses have been broken in, something needs to be done," she said.
Investigators with the Houston Police Department have 13 reported home burglaries in the area within the past two months, Detective Greg Shelton said.
"Oftentimes it’s the people who actually live in the neighborhood. In other words, neighbors burglarizing other neighbors’ houses. That’s what we suspect is probably happening in this case," Shelton said.
Police were concerned if they don’t catch this person, someone may eventually get hurt.
"Sometimes they may unknowingly break into a house that turns out to be occupied, then once you have issues with witnesses and stuff like that, that’s when the propensity for violence just goes sky high," Shelton said.
That is what makes neighbors in the Clinton Park community fearful, that one of their own is violating their homes.
Houston police believe they have a suspect. They are waiting for fingerprints to come back to give them an even stronger case against this person.
Until then, the Lewis family is safe-guarding their home, to be sure this doesn’t happen again.
