Police, residents: Break-ins are on the rise in Clear Lake

CLEAR LAKE, TX

It is one section of Clear Lake City, but with a lot of neighborhoods. To the Houston Police Department, it's a police patrol beat. And you could say it's having a wave of burglaries and break-ins.

"They're taking the jewelry and guns and things like that," said Capt. Mark Fougerousse with the HPD Clear Lake Division.

There have been 60 break-ins so far this year. That's double the 30 reported the year prior, and they are in areas where neighbors never saw it before.

"I've always thought this area was really safe," resident Ross Radley said. "Not much activity to talk about. It always seemed really calm."

As in most burglaries, the break-ins happen during the day -- usually through a back door, which is what happened at a house last week.

Along with jewelry and cash, the family's dog was struck by the intruders with such force that it fractured the skull.

"Her face is all broken, and that's the most awful thing of all," homeowner Jeane Putnam said. "She barely walks."

There are extra patrols being added in the neighborhoods; undercover officers are being added as well. And one of the items stolen has already shown up at another crime -- a gun.

"One gun taken in another burglary... was on a suspect arrested for drugs," Fougerousse said.

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