Citizen reporting hit-and-run helps police nab alleged crooks
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by By Rosa Flores / 11 News
khou.com
Posted on November 19, 2009 at 1:49 AM
Updated
Thursday, Nov 19 at 1:59 AM
HOUSTON -- What are the odds? A man was burglarized and recovered all his property in the same day. Well, it happened to one lucky man because of a quick-thinking citizen who helped police catch some unlucky crooks. It all began at a Pearland home belonging to Boyd Edres on Wednesday.
Police said three burglars ransacked Edres’s home and loaded his belongings in a stolen van.
“We had no idea how much they took,” said Edres. He estimated property losses and damages to be in the thousands.
“I think they kicked in the door, tore the side away. They poured crap on the carpet, knocked things over, I’m just happy the police were so responsive. I couldn’t believe they caught them,” he said.
His good fortune was because the crooks had run out of luck. They got into a wreck on Highway 288 in Pearland and fled the scene, or so they thought.
What they didn’t know is that they were being tailed by a concerned citizen who witnessed the accident.
Police say the burglars drove to the Top Dollar Pawn and Sales Shop in southwest Houston, met up with two other suspects in a tan sedan and started trading the stolen goods for cash.
The driver who had witnessed the hit-and-run was describing their every move to police, who were able to move in.
“We are always asking the community to do its part. And that’s exactly what happened today. Thanks to a witness who saw an accident, five burglary suspects are in custody,” said HPD spokesman Kese Smith.
Officers on the scene said they believe the suspects are linked to at least two other burglaries in the area.
All five men are charged with felony theft, but police say other charges are possible, pending further investigation.
And as for Edres, he credits the police for doing a good job and said he’s going to make sure to keep his alarm on from now on.
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