Car oil, battery thieves hit several stores

HOUSTON The three suspects -- two men and a woman -- enter through the main entrance of the stores with an empty shopping cart; one of the men heads directly to the back of the store to car care isle while the others wait in the front.

The man puts car oil inside bags he brought inside the store with him and car batteries next to the bags in the cart, according to a Crime Stoppers statement. He then meets up with the two other suspects, who block him from the greeters at door while they leave the store.

Detectives believe the same suspects are responsible for several similar thefts around Houston area stores in the last year.

The latest incident occurred during the evening of August 27 when the suspects stole a total of eight bottles of oil and two car batteries. All three suspects left the store in a yellow Chevy Monte Carlo with a possible Texas license plate # RHS-140.

Anyone with information regarding the identities of the suspects is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.