KHOU 11 reporter Anayeli Ruiz labored together with her legislation enforcement sources and received an unique inside have a look at the months-long investigation.
HOUSTON — Investigators seized 477 catalytic converters in an early morning raid Thursday. Seven places all through the Houston space, together with a warehouse, have been hit.
KHOU 11 reporter Anayeli Ruiz labored together with her legislation enforcement sources and received an unique inside have a look at the months-long investigation that stemmed from the demise of Deputy Darren Almendarez, who was shot whereas attempting to cease thieves from taking his catalytic converter. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office stated the investigation was private.
RELATED: Deputy Darren Almendarez replace: Prosecutors announce they’ll search demise penalty in capital homicide case
Investigators stated the tons of of thefts have been a part of one thing greater.
“It’s part of a big organized crime,” HCSO Sergeant Jeff Thomas stated. “We do have some cutters, maybe some of the top people of the organization today.”
In complete, six individuals have been arrested, together with one who was arrested in Oklahoma.
Those arrested have been recognized by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement as Jose Martinez, 19; Armando Martinez, 18; Isaac Castillo, 21; Terance Elder, 20; and Armando Martinez Sr., 39; all of Houston, and Jose Sanchez, 21-year-old of Dayton, Texas. Sanchez has since been launched from custody.
Editor’s word: Charges towards Jose Sanchez have been dropped, so we now have eliminated video of his arrest from this story.
A house on Lila Street in fifth Ward was simply one of many seven places the place the crooks have been storing the catalytic converters, officers stated. Other places included a house on Buffington Street, a home in Dayton, Texas and a warehouse on Shoreham Street.
In video solely Ruiz has, investigators could possibly be seen tossing catalytic converters from the window of one of many properties. Thomas stated among the catalytic converts have been stolen from so far as Galveston, College Station, Conroe and Huntsville, Texas.
Investigators stated not solely the 477 catalytic converters have been recovered but in addition 2,800 oxygen sensors. Investigators additionally confiscated 29 firearms, 1 Glock swap and 1 stolen Hellcat.
Nearly 400 catalytic converters have been discovered at simply one of many places. The stolen items are value greater than 1,000,000 {dollars} on the road, officers stated. The price for the victims is excessive, he stated.
“It’s very costly if you get your catalytic converter stolen,” Thomas stated. “The main target is the Toyota Tundra. You are looking at $1,800 to $3,000 to get them replaced.”
While greater than $1 million in catalytic converters have been discovered, investigators imagine the ring is answerable for greater than $11.6 million in complete damages.
RELATED: Harris, Fort Bend counties lead the state in catalytic converter thefts, AAA reviews
Investigators stated they hope with Thursday’s arrest they’re capable of make a change and cease among the thefts occurring in the world. They stated they aren’t going to cease with this bust that concerned the Harris County Sherriff’s workplace, Office of Homeland Security, DPS and HPD and the usage of choppers and robots.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link