From the Desk of Chief Ray Schultz,

As a reminder to all residents, if you have an alarm system, be sure to activate your alarm system every time that you leave your home unattended. Whether you are leaving for a quick errand or for the day. There is a lot of construction occurring throughout the area, (6 days a week) in addition to the regular daily maintenance being performed by landscapers and pool service companies. These workers are often temporary day laborers and sub-contractors. They can quickly identify your schedules and either commit crimes themselves or by coordinating criminal activity with others via phone or text messaging.

As the economy continues to struggle and the inflation rate puts more pressure on low wage earners, we are afraid that property crimes will pick up. We are fortunate here in the villages that there is technology readily available that can help deter most property crimes and limit the amount of any losses.

Alarm systems notify us of illegal entry into homes. With our ability to respond quickly, we usually arrive on scene within minutes. This increases the likelihood of catching the criminal in the act or if not, it will definitely limit the time the criminal is inside of your home. Less time equals less loss. Additionally, the price of alarms, video doorbells and video surveillance systems are at all-time lows. The hardware can be supported by a subscription service that records and retains all video footage.

Newer alarm systems are now all wireless meaning that there is no need to run wires. Even older homes can be retrofitted with entry and motion alarms. These systems often include video support that notify the alarm companies and the property owner of an alarm trip with interior video. This allows for quick verification of any real burglary. Verified, in-progress alarms get the highest priority possible meaning that multiple officers are responding.  An accidental alarm trip, maybe by a housekeeper, can also just as easily be cancelled.

We are asking all residents to please check your alarm systems and ensure they are property working, make any needed upgrades of equipment and cameras. Sign up for the subscription service and most important, use the system any time you leave the house.

The proper use of alarms, video systems and the locking of all vehicle doors, can help us keep the villages as one of the safest communities in the state.  

On Thursday evening, we graduated our most recent RAD Class. Congratulation to the class of 12 for taking the initiative and in learning how to best protect yourselves and your families. (Photo attached)

During the holidays it appears that many area children received new electric scooters and they have been busy out in the community zipping up and down the sidewalks, streets, and cul-de-sac's.  While the scooters are obviously lots of fun, they do move at a brisk pace and are extremely quiet. The small wheels mean that hitting a raised area of sidewalk, a pothole or a tree root will immediately stop the scooter and knock the rider off. I have heard from concerned residents who are worried when they see riders not wearing helmets. Also of concern is the quick approach to walkers from behind that startles the walkers who sometime step to the side, that ends up being in front of the scooter rider.  An area resident/physician asked that I share information about these increasingly popular toys with the community. Read more on the attached site.  E-Scooters Aren’t for Kids: AAP Urges Safety Rules – HealthyChildren.org

Upcoming area events include:

·       -  February 5, 2023, 0830 – 0930 am, The Ferrari Club of Houston - Annual Groundhog Day Meet and Cruise at the MVPD

·      -  March 9, 2023, The Annual Birdies Fore Blues Golf Tournament. Contact Sergeant Adam Pavlock at jpavlock@mvpdtx.org for more details and how to get involved.  

·      -  April 1, 2023, 10 am – 2 pm, The MVPD Food Truck Rodeo at Chapelwood Presbyterian Church.  

A special thanks this week to the students from River Oaks Baptist School for dropping off a basket of goodies for staff, your generosity is much appreciated.

Be sure and check out the weekly crime report below.  It is going to be a rainy day tomorrow, so be safe if out driving during the rain allowing extra time and distance to safety stop.  Have a great weekend. Chief Ray Schultz rschultz@mvpdtx.org

Weekly Crime Report

Hunters Creek

1/13/23 at 1800 Hours. 8500 Block of Katy Freeway. Driving While Intoxicated. Officers were dispatched to the area in reference to a vehicle that had struck a fence at the gas station.  Upon arrival officers located a male subject slumped over the wheel and passed out. The subject was checked by EMS and found to just be intoxicated. The driver was administered a set of sobriety tests which he failed. A check of the vehicle located several open bottles of wine. The 35-year-old male was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County Jail. The vehicle was towed.

1/16/23 at 0400 Hours. 8500 Block of Katy Freeway. Criminal Mischief (Graffiti). While on patrol officers observed new graffiti on a safety barrier wall along the I-10 feeder road.   Photos of the damage were taken, and the city informed of the damage. Arrangements for repairs were made.    

1/17/23 at 1630 Hours. 10700 Block of Memorial Drive. Emergency Detention Order. Officers were dispatched to the area in reference to a disabled vehicle.  Upon arrival officers located the vehicle blocking traffic with a female standing outside of the car. The female stated that she had run out of gas. When asked if there was someone, she could contact who could help her, she became uncooperative and erratic. The female displayed signs of being in a mental health crisis. Officers had EMS check her and contacted relatives to see if they could assist. The relatives refused due to her aggressive past behavior. The female was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and was displaying signs of drug usage. The female was transported to Memorial Hermann for an evaluation and an emergency order of detection for her safety. The vehicle was towed for safe keeping.

1/19/23 at 1130 Hours. 800 Block of Voss. Theft by Fraud/Forgery. The victim reported that while examining her bank account information she located 5 checks issued to and cashed by her daughter’s tutor that she did not write or authorize. The checks were made out to the tutor but had been forged by the tutor who signed the victim’s name.  The victim contacted the tutor who admitted to forging the checks for various reasons. An investigation into the tutors resume also found that most of it was false.   Information about the tutor and the banking information was collected and has been provided to detectives who have taken over the investigation.

1/19/23 at 1645 Hours. 8500 Block of Katy Freeway. Theft. The victim reported that a male subject had just stolen a case of beer from the gas station and had left walking east on the frontage road.  Officers were nearby and quickly located the subject walking east carrying the stolen items. The male subject was found to be intoxicated and was also carrying a baseball bat. As officers attempted to take the male into custody, he resisted arrest. The 37-year-old male was booked at the MVPD jail. The beer was returned to the gas station.

Bunker Hill

1/16/23 at 1515 Hours. 11900 Block of Stoney Ridge. Credit Card Abuse. The victim’s email account had been hacked and she was going through hundreds of emails that she had received when she learned of an account that had been opened at REI with purchases being made. A check with REI found charges for merchandise that had been completed and set for delivery to an unknown Houston address. Information about the purchases and the delivery address was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

1/18/23 at 2030 Hours. Memorial at Briar Forrest. Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. Officers stopped a vehicle after observing it to be traveling at 51 MPH in a posted 35 MPH zone. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the car. The subjects were asked to exit the vehicle at which time a handgun could be seen on one of the passengers. The male was found to be 16 years old. The juvenile was released to the Harris County Juvenile Probation Center. The male driver was issued citations for possession of marijuana. The firearm was tagged into evidence and submitted to the County lab for forensic testing to see if it had been involved in other crimes.

1/18/23 at 1030 Hours. 200 Block of Gessner. Recovered Stolen License Plate.  Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation. As officers were stopping the vehicle, they were alerted that the license plate had just been reported stolen by HPD. The driver of the vehicle stated that he had just found the license plate and put it on his vehicle so he could go to work. Information about the driver, his vehicle and the stolen plate was collected and provided to detectives for a follow up investigation due to no reports being on file yet about the stolen plate. The driver was released with citations pending a review by the DA’s Office. The license plate was tagged into MVPD evidence.

1/19/23 at 1330 Hours. 200 Block of Gessner. Recovered Stolen Motor Vehicle. Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering the villages on Gessner Road.  Officers were nearby and quickly located the vehicle in the area.  The car had been reported as stolen on the 18^th by the Houston Police Department. Officers contacted the driver who stated that a friend who works on cars had loaned him the vehicle while his car was being fixed. The driver claimed to have had the car for the past 20 days. Officers were unable to contact the “mechanic”. Officers also attempted to contact the victim but were unable to.  The DA’s Office was contacted but declined charges at this time due to the victim being unable to be contacted.  The vehicle was recovered and towed. The male was identified and released at I-10 and Gessner.

1/19/23 at 1800 Hours. 12000 Block of Rhett. Burglary of a Habitation. The victim returned home after an outing and found that unknown person(s) had broke out a rear window and gained access to the home. Once inside the house, it was ransacked with jewelry and coins being taken.  It appears the suspect(s) spent a great deal of time inside of the home as most of the home was heavily ransacked and searched.  Detectives were requested and responded to the scene.  Information was collected and detectives have taken over the investigation. An initial canvas of the area did not locate any video cameras. Detectives returned on 1/20/23 and are interviewing area contractors who were working in the area during the time of the burglary.  

Piney Point

1/17/23 at 1400 Hours. -100 Block of Lacewood. Possession of a Controlled Substance/Driving While Under the Influence. Officers were dispatched to the area after receiving calls of a vehicle weaving and driving on area lawns. Upon arrival officers located a pool service vehicle and made contact with the driver.  The driver displayed signs of being under the influence and was also found to be in possession of open containers of alcohol.  The 58 -year-old male subject failed a series of sobriety tests and was booked into the Harris County Jail. The vehicle was towed from the scene. (Note: the vehicle was displaying a xerox copy of a regular Texas license plate).

1/18/23 at 1700 Hours.  1-100 Block of Mott Lane. Theft by Fraud. The victim reported that upon reviewing her bank account she found 4 checks that had been written and cashed from her account by an unknown individual. The victim checked her checkbook and found that some checks were missing. The victim had just hired a new housekeeper and believes that she is the only person who could have accessed the checkbook. Information about the cashed checks, bank, and the housekeeper, was collected and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.