Just another reminder to please try to not utilize the mailbox or the mailing service available at the Briar Grove Pharmacy. We continue to see outgoing mail/checks being intercepted that have been mailed from that location. It appears that the thieves are looking for tax payments, so those items specifically should be taken to a post office or dropped off directly at the tax office. Our detectives continue to work these cases along with Postal Inspectors. We know that these continued incidents are frustrating to our residents who use those services and an inconvenience.  Our detectives are equally as frustrated.

We have also seen an uptick in attempted credit card frauds. This is a good time of year to perform a review of your credit report looking for any suspicious inquiries or attempts to open new bank accounts, credit cards or loans. I am attaching a link to the Federal Trade Commission webpage that helps explain how to check your credit for free. Get My Free Credit Report | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)

Earlier this week we had announced the upcoming Community Discussion on Crime that was going to be held at St. Francis Church on January 24, 2022.  However, due to the continuing increases in the number of area COVID cases, the organizers have decided to postpone the event for a bit until we get past the current surge in the number of cases.  The discussion on crime will be rescheduled and announced at a later date, the target date will be early March. More to come later when a final date is set.

This week area law enforcement leaders met with Commissioner Ramsey after he called a meeting to discuss the increasing numbers of fraudulent temporary license plates and the impact, they are having on area crime. Leaders from police departments met with the Commissioner and discussed strategies that included additional use of ALPR technology and the real-time sharing of information of not only the suspected fake license plates but also of the suspected suppliers. Additional training will be provided to area officers on how best to spot fraudulent temporary tags over the coming weeks.  That training along with some specific funding to target traffic enforcement of improper temporary tags should send a clear message to the violators and sellers of these paper tags that we mean business. The timing on this is right on time as this week, we located two bad paper tags, one a fraudulent tag that was also reported as stolen and another that was unregistered and illegally issued. Read more about our two cases below.

Please don’t forget the “Birdies Fore Blues” Golf event is only a month away.  We are expecting excellent weather this year and the event organizers are working hard to ensure a fun event for everyone who attends.  Our First Responders, Memorial High School students, Corporate Sponsors and Supporters are all anxiously waiting for the tournament date to get here.  There is also still room for teams, individual players and/or sponsors.  Learn more about the tournament at the following link  https://mvpf.net/?view=article&id=51&catid=14

This year we will be raising funds for the son of Officer Nick Harwood and his wife Megan.  In November, they were blessed with the birth of their second child, Forrest. Even though Forrest was born months ago he remains in the hospital in the critical care unit.  Forrest is working on gaining weight in order to hopefully be able to soon go home where he will be required to undergo daily dialysis until he grows in size and weight and becomes eligible to receive a Kidney transplant. Nick has always been a giving person to the communities where he was served, including being a bone marrow donor himself. It is now our turn to give back to Nick and Megan and assist them during this challenging time. The Birdies Fore Blue’s event this year will be assisting in establishing a medical trust for Forrest to help pay present and future medical expenses. As always, our thanks to Memorial High School Students Hunter and Harrison Lee and their parents for making this event a reality. Plan now on joining us for a great day of golf, friendship and fellowship.

Also, our thanks again this week to the residents who sent over unexpected dinners. Staff was treated to Ciro’s and Canes’ Chicken on Tuesday and Thursday. And, thanks to the family that sent over Truth Bar-b-Que gift cards. Those cards will be added to our ever-growing pile and soon we will conduct a drawing in which every employee receives an envelope with gift card(s) ranging from $15-$100 dollars.  We do the drawings blind, and everyone is always excited to see what they receive. What-a-Burger or Ciro’s, McDonald's or Truth BBQ? Starbucks or Dairy Queen? It does not matter as they are all appreciated.

Have a great weekend. Chief Ray Schultz rschultz@mvpdtx.org

Weekly Crime Report

Piney Point

1/7/22 at 1815 Hours. 11500 Block of Raintree. Forgery. The victim reported that after reading last week’s V-LINC report about mail being intercepted/stolen from the mailbox at the Briar Grove Pharmacy and knowing that he had recently mailed items at that location, he decided to check on the status of some checks.  Upon examining his account, he found that one of his checks had been stolen, washed and reissued to a female that he did not know. Information about the stolen check and cashing bank was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation. 

1/8/22 at 0400 Hours. 500 Block of Piney Point. Public Intoxication.  While on patrol officers located a suspicious vehicle parked in a driveway with the lights on.  Upon approaching the vehicle, a male suspect was found to be sleeping inside of the car.  The male did not live at the address and was found to be heavily intoxicated to the point that he did not know where he was.  The 29-year-old male was placed under arrest and booked into the MVPD jail.  The vehicle was towed from the driveway.

1/10/22 at 0630 Hours. 11600 Block of Arrowood.  Public Intoxication. Officers were dispatched to the area in reference to a vehicle parked on the side of the road with the headlights shinning into the residence.  Upon arrival officers located the pickup truck with a male subject passed out inside.   The male was found to be heavily intoxicated and did not know where he was.   The 37-year-old male was placed under arrest and booked into the MVPD jail.  The truck was towed from the scene.

1/13/22 at 0245 Hours. 2200 S. Piney Point Road. Unlawful Use of a Stolen License Plate/Fugitive from Justice.  Officers were notified of a vehicle with a stolen license plate entering the villages on S. Piney Point Road.  Officers were nearby and located the vehicle that attempted to elude officers by driving in an erratic manner. The vehicle was eventually stopped when it pulled into an apartment complex in Houston. The male was ordered out of the vehicle and taken into custody.  When asked about the license plate he admitted that it was stolen as he had bought it from a “crackhead”. While at the scene a female and a small child showed up. The male asked that a large quantity of cash that he had in his pocket be given to the female. Officers learned that the male driver was fugitive with outstanding warrants for burglary and auto theft. The male was booked into the Harris County Jail and the vehicle was towed. Detectives were notified to follow up on the suspect and to determine if he was involved in any other area crimes.

1/13/22 at 1600 Hours. Memorial at Blalock Road. Fictitious Temporary License Plate/Tag.  Officers were notified of an ALPR hit on a vehicle with a stolen paper license plate.  Officers were nearby and located and stopped the vehicle. Through investigation it was learned that the paper license plate was a fraudulent plate that had been given to the driver when they bought the vehicle. The vehicle had been purchased from an individual and she was making payments but was not given a real license plate but instead was given various paper tags upon making her payments.  The paper license plate was collected and tagged into evidence. Detectives were notified of the event and will follow up.

Hunters Creek

1/9/22 at 1300 Hours. 200 Block of Bryn Mawr. Attempted Fraud. The victim reported that she was selling an item on a local social media site and was contacted by a male subject who was interested in the item. After a price was agreed upon the buyer said a check would be sent for the cost, plus shipping, and that a shipping company would retrieve the item. The check arrived for a sum much larger than the agreed upon price.  The buyer asked for the check to be cashed and the extra funds be given to the shipper.  A check with bank found the check to be a fraudulent check. The sale did not proceed.  Information about the attempted fraud was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.  (Note: The bank/check is associated with Massachusetts and the address of the phone number to Georgia.)

1/9/22 at 1330 Hours. 800 Block of Voss. Unlawful Use of a Stolen Vehicle.  Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering the villages on Voss Road.  Officers were nearby and quickly located and stopped the vehicle. Upon speaking with the driver, he stated that he had borrowed it from a guy named “Trip” who lived at a hotel. Officers observed the car window to be freshly broken out with glass still on the window frame and on the floor. A key was broken-off inside of the ignition.  The DA’s Office was contacted but declined charges. However, the suspect was found to be a wanted fugitive. The driver had outstanding warrants for Organized Criminal Activity and (you will never guess) Unlawful Use of a Stolen Vehicle. The 51-year-old suspect was booked into the Harris County Jail and vehicle was recovered and towed.    

1/10/22 at 1400 Hours. 400 Block of Kari Court. Fraud.  The victim reported that he received information of possible fraudulent activity on a credit card. The activity had occurred in Chicago. After the card was closed, he noticed additional suspicious activity and upon calling his bank they stated they had never called him or canceled the card.  Further investigation located additional unauthorized charges totaling 1000’s of dollars at Houston area Costco’s.  The real bank then closed the account. Information was collected and provided to detectives who are following up on this unusual case and differing type of fraud.

1/10/22 at 1415 Hours. 700 Block of Creekside. Fraud.  The victim reported that he learned that a check that he had written and mailed at the Briar Grove Pharmacy had been intercepted, washed and reissued to a female who he did not know.  The check had been cashed via mobile deposit and the account that it was deposited into has since been closed.  Information about the stolen check was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

1/11/22 at 1315 Hours. 10600 Block of Twelve Oaks. Fraud.  The victim reported that several checks that had been written and mailed at the Briar Grove Pharmacy had been intercepted, washed and one actually cashed, and two others denied by the bank.  Information about the checks and respective banks was collected and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

1/14/22 at 0045 Hours. Voss at Memorial. Unlawful Possession of a Deadly Weapon. Officers were monitoring the intersection as the result of complaints of red-light runners.  Officers observed a vehicle run the red light and initiated a traffic stop.  Upon approaching the driver officers could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle.  A subsequent search located marijuana and loaded handgun. The 24-year-old driver was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County Jail.

Bunker Hill

1/11/22 at 0730 Hours. 1-100 block of Valley Forge. Theft of Construction Equipment. The victim/contractor stated that 2 unknown Hispanic males had entered the property and removed over 100 pieces of wood. A picture of the suspects was located on a nearby surveillance camera.  A check of other cameras located a yellow Penske Truck in the area.  Detectives then used the ALPR camera and identified the Penske Truck that was found to be a stolen truck. Detectives have taken over the investigation and are following up several leads on the suspects who are possibly involved in other area contractor thefts.

1/11/21 at 1045 Hours. 11700 Block of Durrette. Fraud.  The victim reported that he was advised of suspicious activity on his credit card. Upon further investigation he learned that several charges had been made on his credit card and an account opened at an AT&T store with several Apple watches being purchased.  Information about the account activity was collected and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.