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Suspected leader of teen burglars regroups, goes bust
By STEFANIE THOMAS
Local authorities suspect a total of 13 Kingwood juveniles in connection with more than a dozen burglaries of area businesses as well as one residential break-in that occurred within the last two months.
According to Officer Jim Adkins of the Houston Police Department Kingwood Division Tactical Unit, nine of the teens were arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a felony, on the evening of Sept. 4, while four more are expected to be charged next week.
Adkins said that the teen burglary ring, which consisted of one girl and 12 boys of middle-school age, was led by a 16-year-old boy who only last year was charged with seven burglaries at Kingwood businesses and suspected in as many as 36.
“We received information that helped us identify some of the suspects,” Adkins said. “When we brought them in one by one, all but one of them gave a confession.”
The break-ins occurred between July 3 and Aug. 23 at Subway on Kingwood Drive, Safeway Driving School, twice at Kingwood Country Club, Subway on Northpark, Best Wishes & Gifts, Skeeters, Dahn Yoga, Mercury Tanning Salon, The Barber Shop, Kingwood Bagel and Bakery, Nails Plus and Elite Treats, and Forest Cove Golf Course.
The burglary of a residence took place in the 3300 block of Kings Mountain Drive, Adkins said.
“They got in by breaking windows, kicking in doors,” Adkins said. “The [property] damage they incurred was substantial compared to the loot, thousands and thousands of dollars. But their biggest score was only about $600 at one of the Subways.”
Adkins said that the burglaries were not drug-related. The teens allegedly purchased items like shoes and clothing with the stolen money.
The ringleader is currently being held at a Texas Youth Commission facility in Brownwood, according to Adkins, and authorities will attempt to try the 16-year-old as an adult.
The boy, along with four juvenile accomplices, was previously taken into custody in May 2007, after HPD Kingwood Officers Mike Zientek and James McIntosh conducted a stakeout on a stolen car containing burglary tools in plain view. When two teens approached to retrieve the vehicle, they were placed under arrest. Originally charged with seven break-ins, the ringleader was granted a plea-bargain and eventually convicted of two counts of burglary, Adkins said.
“He had just gotten out of TYC this summer when he started forming his new team,” Adkins said. “But other than the leader of the group, none of the other kids in the new group were the same as last year.”
Adkins said that the parents of the teens involved were very supportive and cooperative in working with police.
“They are very upset with their children,” Adkins said.
According to Officer Jim Adkins of the Houston Police Department Kingwood Division Tactical Unit, nine of the teens were arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a felony, on the evening of Sept. 4, while four more are expected to be charged next week.
Adkins said that the teen burglary ring, which consisted of one girl and 12 boys of middle-school age, was led by a 16-year-old boy who only last year was charged with seven burglaries at Kingwood businesses and suspected in as many as 36.
“We received information that helped us identify some of the suspects,” Adkins said. “When we brought them in one by one, all but one of them gave a confession.”
The break-ins occurred between July 3 and Aug. 23 at Subway on Kingwood Drive, Safeway Driving School, twice at Kingwood Country Club, Subway on Northpark, Best Wishes & Gifts, Skeeters, Dahn Yoga, Mercury Tanning Salon, The Barber Shop, Kingwood Bagel and Bakery, Nails Plus and Elite Treats, and Forest Cove Golf Course.
The burglary of a residence took place in the 3300 block of Kings Mountain Drive, Adkins said.
“They got in by breaking windows, kicking in doors,” Adkins said. “The [property] damage they incurred was substantial compared to the loot, thousands and thousands of dollars. But their biggest score was only about $600 at one of the Subways.”
Adkins said that the burglaries were not drug-related. The teens allegedly purchased items like shoes and clothing with the stolen money.
The ringleader is currently being held at a Texas Youth Commission facility in Brownwood, according to Adkins, and authorities will attempt to try the 16-year-old as an adult.
The boy, along with four juvenile accomplices, was previously taken into custody in May 2007, after HPD Kingwood Officers Mike Zientek and James McIntosh conducted a stakeout on a stolen car containing burglary tools in plain view. When two teens approached to retrieve the vehicle, they were placed under arrest. Originally charged with seven break-ins, the ringleader was granted a plea-bargain and eventually convicted of two counts of burglary, Adkins said.
“He had just gotten out of TYC this summer when he started forming his new team,” Adkins said. “But other than the leader of the group, none of the other kids in the new group were the same as last year.”
Adkins said that the parents of the teens involved were very supportive and cooperative in working with police.
“They are very upset with their children,” Adkins said.
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