The Orange Grove Police Department is asking for your help in solving this crime of the week. 

Sometime between December 10, 2007 and January 10, 2008 unknown suspect or suspects burglarized and caused damage to six locations in the Orange Grove area. These areas included the Floor Store, C & R Investment Insurance, Orange Grove Co-op, Orange Grove Independent School District Administration Building, Herschap’s Drive Thur, and the Five Star Video.

Suspects managed to take computer equipment valued at over $4000, Carpet installation equipment, various tools and welding equipment, movie DVD videos, as well as causing damage to various locations. 

If you have any information regarding these crimes contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas at 664-Stop or stxtips.com. All calls are anonymous. Any information you provide leading to an arrest could earn you a cash reward up to $2,000

On August 6, 2007 at approximately 8:40 pm units responded to an unlawful restraint of a child.  The units were advised an unknown male subject in his mid 40 or 50`s, wearing a torn red shirt, torn blue jeans shorts, and white shoes approached her.  The male subject is also described as having a full beard with white hair on the beard, and the male subject also had long hair.  The male suspect attempted to take the child against her will.  He fled the area no could be located fitting the description.  The victim met with a sketch artist and the following picture was provided, if anyone has any information on the where about or can positively identify the suspect contact Crime Stoppers at 361-664-STOP or at www.stxtips.com.

According to Alice police reports, the fourth theft totaled $3231; tips are sought Copper thefts continue to plague the city of Alice as AEP Texas was hit again for the fourth time, police reports confirm.

The total value of the copper reels was $3,231, the police report said.

On May 25, at about 7 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South Gulf in reference to a burglary of a building and vehicle. According to police reports, the shop keeper discovered the building had been burglarized sometime overnight on May 24.

Upon observation, the west rear door appeared to be forced open with tools such as large screwdrivers taken from one of the company trucks.

Once inside, the suspects cut the lock to a fenced area of the building and took a pallet of about 19 copper reels in assorted gauges, the report said.

Six of the reels had a black rubber coating on the copper. The suspects also cut the lock to a large sliding door to wheel the pallet out. The report stated that the suspects gained entry by cutting the fence on the north side. An empty pallet and pallet jack were also found on the north side of the building next to a dumpster.

In the same burglary, a company truck was discovered to have been burglarized, with a copper reel valued at $92 missing from the back cargo of the vehicle.

AEP was also burglarized on April 15, May 10 and May 14.

Anyone with information about the copper burglaries at AEP Texas can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtipscom and fill out tip information through the Internet. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects. All calls remain anonymous.

Copper thefts have been on the increase lately and this week`s Crime of the Week features a burglary in the 1500 block of W. Front Street in which suspects stole about 1,000 pounds of copper and two cameras totaling $4,000.

According to police report, suspects made entry to Barr Iron and Metal at 1500 W. Front Street during the overnight hours of May 7.

The suspects cut a hole into the bay door, unlocking it from the outside. Once inside the building, the suspects took about 1,000 pounds of copper worth $3,500.

They also took two trail cameras that were used for security purposes.

The cameras were estimated at $250 each.

The manager of Barr Iron and Metal said the copper that was stolen was marked with a bright colored paint to distinguish it.

Anyone with information about the burglary at Barr Iron and Metal can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtips.com and fill out tip information through the Internet.

Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects.

All calls remain anonymous.

A burglar entered a building in the 1600 block of N. Johnson Street and got away with automobile products and money totaling $900, police reports said.

The Alice Police Department is asking for the public`s help for this week`s Crime of the Week.

The police department is asking for your help in finding the suspect or suspects responsible for burglarizing the Grease Rack on N. Johnson Street. The culprits entered through a north side window by removing an air conditioning window unit to make entry, the report said.

According to police, the burglars caused damage to the cash drawer that was pried open. The suspect then forced open the change machine, causing damage to the machine and taking about $150 in currency.

The report also stated other items were stolen, including nine bottles of Armorall and six tire foam cans. The estimated value of the items stolen and damage to the building was about $900, including the money, the report said.

Anyone with information about the burglary at the Grease Rack can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtipscom and fill out tip information on the Internet. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects.

All calls remain anonymous.

In just over a month, since April 16, the AEP-Texas yard has been burglarized four times, with the suspects stealing copper wiring and other items.

The estimated value of the stolen copper wire is at least $5,000, police reports state.

The AEP office was burglarized on April 16, May 11, May 14 and May 24.

As the Crime of the Week, police are asking for the public`s help in solving these burglaries.

According to the reports, unknown suspects entered the AEP yard located on 307 S. Gulf St. on April 16 on the northwest corner through a linked fence that was possibly cut with bolt cutters.

A dolly was also used to move the large coils of copper that been stolen, the report said.

The report said six reels valued at $295 each were stolen along with 14 reels of bare copper valued at $94.50 each, two reels of another grade bare copper at $93.06, one knife and a climbing bag worth $46.72.

Just three weeks later, the yard was hit again in the overnight hours on May 10 and the burglars took one wooden reel of copper from an International Truck. The value of that copper was $800. Then on May 14, four days later, another burglary occurred. Copper was stolen from the building, the report said.

Police said burglars once again targeted the AEP yard on Thursday and stole an undetermined amount of copper wire.

Anyone with information about the burglary at the AEP Texas can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtipscom and fill out tip information by Internet. Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects. All calls remain anonymous.

SOLVED

This week`s Crime of the Week involves a 41-year-old Benavides man who fled from a San Diego police officer after being stopped on suspicion of transporting undocumented immigrants. The officer was forced to shoot at one of the suspect`s car tires, police reports state.

According to the police report, on Feb. 6 at 9:45 a.m., a green Mercury four-door zig-zagged through several streets after police clocked the car by radar traveling nine miles over the speed limit traveling east on Chapultepec Avenue.

The officer noticed that the car had several occupants. The officer pulled over the car and made contact with the driver, who said he did not have an ID and would not identify himself, the report said.

The driver was later identified as Ruben Raul Vela Jr. Both Vela, but his three passengers were not cooperating by refusing to identify themselves. The woman passenger in the front seat told the officer that they were from Laredo, but that they did not have any paperwork. The report said that Vela became agitated and began fidgeting.

The officer then ordered Vela to put his hands on the steering wheel and to turn off his car. After he was ordered once again, Vela refused and the officer drew his revolver and ordered him one more time to place his hands on the wheel, the report said.

Backup from a Duval County deputy arrived, and Vela fled the scene in his car.

"I then saw Vela make a quick motion to the area between the car seat, I started to back peddle, Vela peeled out, and the vehicle started towards (me). With my safety and life in mind, I shot at Vela`s vehicle and struck the vehicle`s left rear tire," the officer`s report said.

Vela drove the car through a four-way stop sign on County Road 111 and Farm to Market Road 3087 as he was traveling east towards the Jim Wells County line. The officer and deputy chased Vela at a high rate of speed. Vela traveled about one and a half miles and turned on County Road 149 and came to a halt as the four occupants bailed out of the vehicle.

A search of the suspects that day with assistance from the Duval Glossbrenner prison unit, Jim Wells Sheriff`s department and border patrol ended with no arrests with the search being called off at 3:15 p.m.

San Diego police are still looking for Vela and is asking the community to help find him. Vela is described as weighing 180 pounds, about 5-feet 7-inches tall with black hair and brown eyes.

He has a tattoo on the left arm, right arm, back and chest.

Vela`s address is listed with a P.O. Box number in Benavides. Vela faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest with a use of a vehicle and failure to identify.

Vela also is wanted on another Duval warrant from September 2006 for failure to appear on a driving under the influence charge.

Anyone with information about Vela`s whereabouts can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtipscom and fill out tip information by Internet.

Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects.

All calls remain anonymous.

SOLVED

On Feb. 25, 2007 unknown suspect(s) entered 1300 Beam Station Rd. the Guadalupe Church.  While inside the suspect(s) ransacked the tabernacle and took some cash.  Suspect(s) took an undisclosed amount of money from the bingo box.  Suspects also got into the Priest`s office and also took some cash. 

A month later March 25, just after midnight, police responded to an alarm call.  Upon arrival police discovered a broken back door.  Suspect(s) used an unknown object to cause the damage. 

Anyone with information about the church burglaries can contact Crime Stoppers of South Texas, Inc. hotline at 664-STOP or log in at www.stxtipscom and fill out tip information by Internet.

Tipsters may be eligible for cash rewards up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and or indictment of the suspect or suspects.

All calls remain anonymous.