The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve taken down an organized group behind a recent wave of construction material thefts.
Over the last two months, investigators from the Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), along with detectives from the East and South Property Crimes Divisions, have been tracking a crew that was quietly—but efficiently—stealing from construction sites around the county.
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According to deputies, this wasn’t your average smash-and-grab. The suspects were running a coordinated operation, complete with lookout vehicles—called “spotters”—that reportedly drove recklessly to throw off law enforcement while the real thefts were taking place. Investigators also identified two main vehicles used to haul away the stolen materials.
With surveillance in place, deputies say they traced the suspects to several businesses in Harris County that were buying up the stolen goods.
Then came the big break.
In the early hours of Monday, April 22, deputies watched as the group entered Montgomery County and headed to the Mavera neighborhood near SH 242 and FM 1314. Around 3:00 a.m., they say the suspects loaded up about $3,500 worth of Hardi plank siding and trim from a house on Juniper Blossom Bend.
But they didn’t get far.
Thanks to a coordinated effort by patrol units and CRU deputies, both the van carrying the stolen materials and a spotter vehicle were stopped before they could leave the neighborhood.
Four men—identified as Adair Texis, 24; Darry Reyes, 20; Jesus Penaloza, 23; and Lazaro Rondon, 42, all from Houston—were arrested and charged with Burglary of a Building.
During interviews, the suspects reportedly confessed to stealing from several other sites, including not just building materials, but also appliances.
The investigation is still ongoing, and deputies say more charges could be on the way.
