Crime Time

Fishing poles most commonly stolen items in Corpus Christi

Forget about those big flat-screen TVs or other pricey electronics.

Corpus Christi police say either the most commonly stolen items this year - or at least high among them - are fishing poles.

Police Lt. Jason Brady tells the Corpus Christi Caller-Times they're easy to swipe from open garages or beds of pickup trucks, are lightweight, easy to carry away and don't attract attention like some thief walking down the street with a television.

Read more in this report from the Caller-Times.

Johnson County girl learns that Santa also wears a badge

A routine theft call turned into a deeper challenge for deputies with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

On Sunday they were called to a home in the 2300 block of Suzanne Lane near Joshua. They learned that a new bike that was to be a Christmas present had been temporarily parked in the driveway, but it was stolen, according to news release from Sheriff Bob Alford.

"Deputies also learned the 10-year-old (girl) whose bicycle was stolen is autistic and didn’t fully understand what happened to the bike," according to the release. "Deputies Lanny Boone and Charles Layland left the residence searching the area for the stolen bike, to no avail.

"But the story doesn’t end there."

Back at the sheriff’s office, according to the release, Boone "made it known he intended to go to Walmart and buy another bike for the child."

Deputies Jeremy Goff, Keven George, Dustin Saulter, Danny Smith and Reserve Deputy Scott Smith all pitched in to help and actually collected more money than was necessary to replace the bike.

Boone took the money to Walmart and bought a similar bike. All the other deputies joined him at the girl’s home near Joshua to deliver the bike with "the excess money attached to the handle bars," the release stated.

Boone told the family to tell the girl that Santa had heard about her loss and he wanted to make sure she got a replacement.

The following day, as Boone continued to search for the stolen bike, he was flagged down by the child’s father who excitedly thanked the deputies for the gift. 

"Boone asked him if the daughter still believed in Santa Claus," the release stated, "and the father told him ‘more than ever.’"

UPDATE: Alleged wreath thief in Aledo was hanging stolen decorations on other homes for cash

A 43-year-old woman accused of stealing Christmas decorations from homes in the Aledo was apparently hanging the lights on other homes as part of a holiday-lighting business, authorities said.

Dana Brock was arrested Wednesday after surveillance images of her were plastered all over the media.

But investigators believe she was doing much more than just stealing the lights.

"It appears that she was committing these offenses and then contracting with others to hang these stolen lights," Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said.

Read more in Bill Hanna's report.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/19/4496601/woman-arrested-accused-of-stealing.html#storylink=cpy

Woman arrested in Aledo area 'Grinch' case

The Parker County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 43-year-old Aledo woman suspected of stealing Christmas decorations in the Aledo area.

Dana Brock was arrested at her home in the 100 block of Rim Rock in Aledo, where deputies said they recovered several of the stolen decorations.

The sheriff's office released surveillance video of the woman in the act of stealing decorations in the wee hours of the morning, and received several tips afterward, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

"Brock implicated herself in the theft and a warrant for theft was issued for her," the news release said.

Officials said reports of missing decorations came from the 300 block of West Gate; 200 block and 300 block of Howard Way; 200 block of Mocking Bird Lane and the 100 block of Deer Creek Drive.

Investigators said they also recovered stolen property unrelated to the so-called "Grinch" thefts.

Brock was booked into the Parker County Jail this morning. But it could have ended much worse for her.

"Going onto someone's property at 3 a.m. could have serious consequences and the outcome could be deadly," Sheriff Larry Fowler said in the news release.

-- Tom Uhler and Bill Miller

Arlington citizens help nab 3 alleged wallet snatchers; police believe trio preyed on women over 50

Arlington Police have been after these three suspects for awhile now, but they were finally caught with help from the public in connection with a recent string of wallet thefts and credit card abuse.

The suspects, who police said were found with help from the public, are Jamie Farris, 27, (top) who is charged with three counts of credit card abuse; Roderick Gwyn, 40, (middle) who is charged with six counts of credit card abuse and credit card abuse of the elderly; and Everett Stith, 26, (bottom) who was arrested on 10 felony warrants.

Police asked for the public's help on Oct. 1 after receiving reports in about a dozen cases in which three suspects are believed to have stolen wallets from purses left in grocery carts.

The victims were usually women over 50, police said.

At least two stores were targeted twice. Stolen credit cards were used shortly after the thefts at gas stations, convenience stores and retail locations to buy gas, gift cards and other merchandise, police said.

-- Patrick M. Walker

Wanted: Fugitive accused of stealing millions donated to help U.S. vets

A man who called himself Bobby Thompson founded the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, a charity that was supposed to provide assistance to military veterans and active service members. But Thompson - whose real name is unknown - disappeared with much of the $100 million the organization raised nationwide, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. They're asking the public's help in finding him. He used a number of aliases, including “Ronnie Brittain” and “Elmer Dosier.” The suspect is in his middle 50s to early 60s, 5’8” tall and about 160 lbs and is believed to be a heavy drinker with a volatile temper. If you have information about his identity or location, contact the U.S. Marshals Service at: 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to 847411(tip411). Tipsters may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available.

110-year-old stolen revolver returned to Texas family

In 1910, when ex-Texas Ranger James Van Riper became San Antonio police chief, he was given a Colt single-action .45 caliber revolver, and it stayed in his family until it was stolen in 1997, the Miami Herald reports. Undercover agents in a sting operation recovered the gun, and this week authorities returned it to the family. 

Texas woman accused of stealing money for abused kids

As executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Tom Green County, Debra Rucker Brown spoke up on behalf of abused children. At the same time, the U.S. Attorney's Office says, she stole more than $237,000 intended to help the children. The San Angelo resident was indicted Thursday on six counts of theft. If she is convicted, each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Man hit by bus after stealing donation jar from downtown Seattle restaurant

A man who ran away after snatching a donation jar from a downtown Seattle restaurant suffered life-threatening injuries when he was hit by a bus.

Seattle TV news station Q13FOX reports that an unidentified man took a donation jar collecting money for a local charity at about noon Thursday and ran from the business when he was struck by a city bus.

The bus driver attempted to stop when the man ran out in front of the vehicle but could not avoid hitting him. The driver was not cited in the incident.

The suspect was not being chased at the time he was hit.

-Chance Welch

Super Bowl-related laptops stolen at Dallas Convention Center

Police in Dallas are investigating the thefts of two laptops and an iPad containing Super Bowl information last weekend at the Dallas Convention Center, KXAS Channel 5 reported.

They were the property of a private investigator and a security consultant from California, who had been hired to work with the NFL during the Super Bowl, the station reported.

The laptops and iPad were taken from a Starbucks kioks at the center, KXAS reported.

It's the second time in two weeks that computers related to the Super Bowl had been stolen in the Metroplex, the station reported.

-- Lance Murray