Nelson Acevedo didn't want to talk to Eyewitness News on Saturday, but Harris County Precict 4 Constable's Office investigators tell us the alleged serial burglar is anything but shy. Victims say he even disabled their home security systems.
"He ripped the cameras out of their sockets, and we didn't replace them because they're a little costly," said a woman whom we'll identify only as Sharon. "And so then this last trip, he clipped the wires. So he disabled everything else we had."
Sharon was too afraid to show her face on camera, but she says Acevedo broke into her home four times. She's one of more than 15 homeowners allegedly burglarized by the man since November.
"It's pretty unnerving. You don't know what their motive is. You don't know what they're going to do next," Sharon said. "It's pretty scary."
We first told you Friday about the suspect, who was caught on camera carrying a flashlight, poking around backyards and peering into windows at several homes across northwest Harris County. Investigators said the man even burglarized cars, moved surveillance cameras and cut wires around his victims' homes.
"He has been seen on video going inside complainants' vehicles, and also other videos where we have him criminally trespassing onto other people's yards and some criminal mischief videos where he has disabled several surveillance cameras," Pct. 4 Sgt. Theresa Harris said.
After seeing the surveillance video, an ABC13 viewer recognized the suspect's unique tattoo and called investigators. Deputies followed up and found Acevedo at a grocery store where he works. He was arrested Saturday afternoon without incident.
"Did you do it?" we asked him.
"No," he replied.
Acevedo, 36, has been charged with felony theft of a firearm and burglary of a motor vehicle. Investigators believe more charges are coming.
"It is very bold, and within the last couple of months -- starting probably in April -- we've noticed he's getting more and more, and the times are getting closer together," Harris said. "This is a huge case for us, and we're going to solve multiple cases with this."
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