Burglary suspects target elderly widows in Liberty Co.
LIBERTY COUNTY, TX
One victim had no problem sharing her story. She wants the crooks caught and punished, she says. They've stolen a number of guns, including hers, so they're considered to be armed and dangerous. Still she's ready to fight back.
All their targets have been homes in Liberty County near FM 2090 and County Road 306.
"I had a police pistol over here," burglary victim I Oma May said.
May feels less protected these days. Usually she is well armed.
"Every gun I had was loaded I didn't have an empty gun in here because my husband told me an unloaded gun is no good," she said.
Now all she has is an empty gun cabinet and pistol case.
"They left it," she said.
May is one of six victims who've been burglarized in the Plum Grove subdivision near Splendora in the last week.
"They busted the frame all to pieces," May said.
In most cases the burglars kicked in the side or back doors. They've been stealing guns, jewelry and cash and they've hit during the day. All the victims have been older women.
"They're obviously watching, they're obviously keeping track of coming and going, so yeah, I'm very concerned about it," said Capt. Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators have had a break -- a camera mounted at one victim's house recorded a crook exiting a gray Daewoo. It has a sunroof and has something dangling from the rearview mirror. Another photo shows the white male with a graying goatee walk down the driveway, then right up to the front door.
They have terrorized this neighborhood.
"I've been out here for 12 years. I've never had any problems and then all of a sudden you're violated, for one thing. It makes me angry, because you know, get a job -- a j-o-b," burglary victim Brenda Seals said.
The burglars are lucky they didn't catch May at home.
"If I would have been here, there would have been some bodies laying there," she said.
She's now relying on other forms of protection. But has her sights set on their capture as well re-filling her empty gun cabinet and case.
"I don't want to be empty handed," May said.
No one has been hurt in any of the burglaries, but detectives fear that if the crimes continue, that may change.
Investigators believe there were a total of three men involved. If you have any information, you're urged to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.