The cars were brought in for any number of reasons. Some were being held as evidence.  Others were awaiting seizures.  Still more were awaiting the identification of their owners.

But the barbed wire and chain link fence around HPD’s Dart lot did little to intimidate the suspects who busted through and burglarized 11 vehicles over the weekend.

“They primarily stole wheels and tires from the vehicles, as well as broke into one of the buildings we had tools stored in,” Capt. Don McKinney with the HPD Auto Theft Division said.

Suspecting the culprits might return, HPD set a trap the following night.  It worked.  Two suspects were arrested at the scene.

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Cars in the HPD Dart lot.

A third who fled the scene was nabbed by a K-9 officer.

All three were in the Harris County Jail Friday night.

Police say if the suspects hadn’t broken into the building and stolen the tools, they might not be facing any real jail time at all.  That’s because that theft was a felony, but burglary of a motor vehicle is just a misdemeanor.

Prior to the incident, the lot only had video surveillance at night.

“Now we have 24-hour coverage out there, so we’ll have somebody there 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  In addition to that, we’re going to be enhancing our remote video surveillance,” McKinney said.

But all of that aside, many are left to wonder:  If HPD can’t protect itself from burglars, who can?