Surveillance images released in major theft case

HOUSTON On March 11, a 77-year-old woman was shopping at the WalMart at 2727 Dunvale. Investigators say when she went to the parking lot, she couldn't find her vehicle. That's when they say four Hispanic males offered to help her. They convinced her to that her vehicle needed major repairs and to give them her keys.

Detectives say the suspects then persuaded the victim to accompany them to her bank, where she withdrew $10,000 and gave the suspects $8,000 for car repairs.

Then the suspects, against the victim's will, took her to the Plazamericas shopping center on Bellaire near the Southwest Freeway and convinced her to charge more than $14,000 worth of jewelry to her credit card.

The victim was then taken to her car and left behind the PetSmart at Westheimer and Dunvale.

The suspects are described only as four Hispanic males. One of them appeared to be in his late 20s, tall and thin. He was accompanied by a female, also in her late 20s, wearing a blouse with the number "46" on the front. They were last seen in a white, late-model Ford Explorer, with a missing front license plate.

Anyone with information in this case or on the identities of the wanted suspects is urged to contact the HPD Major Offenders Division at 713-308-3100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.