HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Gulf Coast Criminal Investigators Association, has launched Operation Blitz.
The goal of the operation is to disrupt organized retail theft operations as well as hold repeat offenders accountable for their actions.
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“Organized retail crime is not just shoplifting; it’s a gateway to more dangerous criminal activity,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “These suspects often carry weapons, have open warrants, and are tied to broader networks. Through Operation Blitz, we’re sending a clear message: we are watching, and we are coming for you.”
Since May 2024, Harris County has seen over 2,300 retail theft-related incidents.
The operation was launched last week and since then, 12 people have been arrested and more than $4,000 in stolen merchandise has been recovered.
“Many of those arrests uncovered even deeper issues, from drug possession to weapons violations and felony-level evading. One suspect, Kenneth Pilgreen, was a repeat offender with open warrants linked to thefts totaling over $42,000 from Home Depot and Lowe’s. Detectives filed an additional felony theft charge after connecting him to another active HCSO case‚” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office says deputies have also been working behind the scenes to dismantle larger organized retail theft crime rings. One of those cases involves Nneka Owunna, who was arrested after investigators tracked a network of 23 suspects believed to be targeting retailers for high-value cosmetics. A tip led deputies to an apartment complex, where they uncovered stolen merchandise being resold through Owunna’s Amazon storefront. According to investigators, it generated $1.1 million in sales in 2023.
In another case, a mother-daughter duo, Ta Taneisha White and Johnette Jackson, along with four other suspects, are accused of stealing more than $30,000 in fragrances and makeup from Sephora locations across the county. Jackson remains at large. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HCSO Office of Burglary and Theft at 713-274-9200.