4 sought in north Houston vehicle, credit card thefts at day care centers, gyms

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police want you to take a close look at three men and a woman, seen on surveillance going in and out of businesses on the northeast side. They are also looking for a blue Chevy pick-up seen near the scene with a missing rear left center cap.

David McClure says he noticed something wasn't right as he picked up his wife at the Kingwood YMCA after exercising. McClure says, "Next to my car was a pile of glass."

A woman in the same class as his wife had her SUV broken into. He says, "She had stuck her purse under the seat and someone in a pickup truck had seen her do that."

His wife Peggy says, "I always take it (my purse) into the class and put it on the hook."

Police say there were also break-ins at two days care centers, one is located in Summerwood and the other in Atascocita.

Houston Police Officer J.R. Jennings says, "So you're really not thinking about grabbing your purse because you aren't going to be in there that long."

Investigators say the thieves move quickly. There are possibly two men in a truck watching for a woman to go inside without her purse. Once the thieves have the purse they go shopping quickly with credit cards and checks at places like Walmart, Home Depot and gas stations.

Officer Jennings adds, "It looks like they are getting gas, getting fuel. When you get fuel if you have the zip code you can use a credit card and put the zip code in and you don't have to sign anything or go inside the store."

If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.