Crime In The Heights

[heights]

Chron is reporting a woman was shot in an apparent robbery at 13th and Harvard:

 

 

http://www.chron.com/about/article/HPD-Woman-apparently-shot-in-Heights-robbery-5730881.php

[heights]

KHOU now reporting that a smoke shop at 13th and Yale was robbed and the suspects fled in a vehicle.  A citizen was chasing the suspects and the suspects fired out of the vehicle at the citizen and a woman pushing a baby in a stroller was struck by the stray bullet.  She is expected to be OK and the baby was not injured.

 

 

 

 

Chron is reporting a woman was shot in an apparent robbery at 13th and Harvard:

 

 

http://www.chron.com/about/article/HPD-Woman-apparently-shot-in-Heights-robbery-5730881.php

 

[J008]

This is crazy.  I guess these vape stores are the new target of robbers.  Strange that the murder last week was right infront of a new smoke shop as well.

[s3mh]

This is crazy.  I guess these vape stores are the new target of robbers.  Strange that the murder last week was right infront of a new smoke shop as well.

 

The murder probably occurred very early in the morning.  Body was found @4:45 am.  Also, it looks like the victim was a transient/homeless man.  No more of a coincidence than the fact that the two crimes were both committed near where businesses are baking bread (Sarita's and Subway).

 

The smoke shop is more of a "you put your weed in it" place than an e-cig.  I would guess that they would do a lot of cash business (who would want to put a weed pipe on a credit card?) and might have a decent amount of cash on hand in comparison to their security measures in place (or lack thereof).   

[BullMan008]

The murder probably occurred very early in the morning.  Body was found @4:45 am.  Also, it looks like the victim was a transient/homeless man.  No more of a coincidence than the fact that the two crimes were both committed near where businesses are baking bread (Sarita's and Subway).

 

The smoke shop is more of a "you put your weed in it" place than an e-cig.  I would guess that they would do a lot of cash business (who would want to put a weed pipe on a credit card?) and might have a decent amount of cash on hand in comparison to their security measures in place (or lack thereof).   

 

**Law and Order sound**

 

Thats good work right there.

 

 

 

Seriously, those idiots are lucky they didnt accidently shoot a baby. 

[plumber2]

Not to mention the Candy Man serial killings. Heights has changed a lot.

Only that Candy Man wasn't from the Heights.

[BullMan008]

Didnt his mom live here next to Helms Elem and dad in Pasedena? I forgot about all of that. We moved here around 74. There was also 2 other killers in this area. I want to say that Henry Lucas guy was also thought to have killed a girl in 1st Ward.....which is now the 'Arts District'. Then there was that guy that buried a woman along the bayou near Stude Park. He lived in the SkyLine Apartments that are now torn down. 

 

Does anyone else remember this?

[Heightsite]

Only that Candy Man wasn't from the Heights.

Do some homework.

Mother had a candy factory next to Helms EL & & "He" lived in many locales in the Heights.

[Purpledevil]

The smoke shop is more of a "you put your weed in it" place than an e-cig. I would guess that they would do a lot of cash business (who would want to put a weed pipe on a credit card?) and might have a decent amount of cash on hand in comparison to their security measures in place (or lack thereof).

We used to call them "head shops" back in my *ahem* smoking days. Maybe I don't realize how much business these kinds of places are pulling in nowadays, but unless the proprietor is selling a kilo of cut every day, I wouldn't think that type of establishment would net a large haul for any robber. To me, there's something more to this story than what's being reported. 2 vehicles used, 4 guys, and shooting at a pursuant in broad daylight? I smell a fish.

[plumber2]

Do some homework.

Mother had a candy factory next to Helms EL & & "He" lived in many locales in the Heights.

 

May be true but the Candy Man that all us Houstonians remember was from Pasadena, and he poisoned his son with a candy Pixie Stix, ruining Halloween around here for decades.

The media may have tried to give Dean Corll the Candy Man name during the Elmer Wayne Hendley Jr. trail, I presume to make the story sound more salacious, but all of us know that the real Candy Man was already locked away.

[IronTiger]

I pass by the corner of Heights/I-10 at approx. midnight five nights a week. There are usually a number of homeless people gathered at the seating area in the esplanade. They also walk about in the street with seemingly no regard for traffic. It will be interesting to learn more about this incident.

There's supposedly a homeless camp in the wooded areas north of Patterson and Interstate 10. I wouldn't be surprised if it was connected somehow.

[s3mh]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/police-investigate-after-smoke-shop-burglary/27967874

 

Smoke shop got hit again overnight.  I drove by at @5:00 am and there was a news truck out front getting ready to do a shot of the broken out door.  It did not look like anyone from the store had found out about it yet.  

[TGM]

It appears that the killer now has a bounty on his/her head.

https://houston.craigslist.org/apa/4692230464.html

Edited September 30, 2014 by TGM

[TGM]

The smoke shop is more of a "you put your weed in it" place than an e-cig. I would guess that they would do a lot of cash business (who would want to put a weed pipe on a credit card?) and might have a decent amount of cash on hand in comparison to their security measures in place (or lack thereof).

I had to chuckle to myself reading about how these are largely a cash-based business. You're not suggesting that their customers are paranoid are you? Lol...

I'm sure there are also comparable vehicle break-in stats for customer vehicles parked at these businesses. Maybe the nearby Star Pizza should run a 24x7 pizza buffet. Alight, I'm finished.

[IronTiger]

I'm going to laugh if the person who catches the Heights cat killer is the serial pooper. He might see something in the middle of the night...

Edited October 1, 2014 by IronTiger

[TGM]

In Timbergrove we may have a serial puker going around a puking on people's property. Same person different end?

Eventually all of these idiots will be caught, and I think the reward may be just the thing to get someone to come forward.

[SilverJK]

I thought they realized a lot of the supposed heights cat killer cases were actually other animals killing them? 

[s3mh]

I thought they realized a lot of the supposed heights cat killer cases were actually other animals killing them? 

 

There have been a number of cats that have been killed by a pack of dogs.  One pack was recently captured by residents.  Some may have also been killed by birds of prey (owls/hawks).  But there are definitely some that were killed by a person.  The head of a cat was mounted on a stake in front of one residence.  Remains were placed in areas that were not accessible to dogs and had evidence of being cut up with knives.  There is definitely a cat killer out there. 

[TGM]

There have been a number of cats that have been killed by a pack of dogs. One pack was recently captured by residents. Some may have also been killed by birds of prey (owls/hawks). But there are definitely some that were killed by a person. The head of a cat was mounted on a stake in front of one residence. Remains were placed in areas that were not accessible to dogs and had evidence of being cut up with knives. There is definitely a cat killer out there.

s3mh is correct. This is a case that we in Texas would label as "A turtle on a fence post". (aka, someone put him up there) Birds, dogs, and coyotes maul, rather than ritualistically dissect their prey. I also started out as a skeptic, but the repeatable patterns have led me to believe the intent is not to serve as a meal for a hungry animal.

Granted the owners should take more personal responsibility in not letting their animals roam free, but to do this is madness.

[J008]

just curious if anyone knows anyhting else.

 

It is pretty amazing that there is a murderer on Heights Blvd and a mother shot on Yale and there is no news on suspects or outrage in the neighborhood. 

[DianeTX]

Just a bit ago, was walking on Cortland between 18th and 16th.  Ambushed by the alley, had to throw rocks at them to get them to go away.  He also say a dead cat near the alley way. 

[txcat84]

You called animal control or even 911 immediately, correct?

You called animal control or even 911 immediately, correct?

[rbwamsley]

I'm looking to purchase a house in the heights that has alley access. One thing I'm worried about is the potential for theft since access cannot be restricted. What do you think? Does anyone have any experience living in a house with alley access?

 

Thanks,

Blake

[Texasota]

I have lived in a number of places with alley access, both in Houston and elsewhere, and have never had any problems.

 

Maybe with raccoons. 

[rbwamsley]

6 minutes ago, Texasota said:

I have lived in a number of places with alley access, both in Houston and elsewhere, and have never had any problems.

 

Maybe with raccoons. 

 

Thanks for your reply. Anyone else?

[innerloop]

I think that the odds probably are just a little bit higher because of the increased access, but you have to look at the trade-off.  Lots in the Heights are relatively small so you want to maximize the available space and taking up a lot of your potential yard with a big street-facing driveway is counter-productive.  I thought it was better to have an alley access garage.

[Angostura]

In a lot of houses, the only access to the alley is via the overhead garage door (i.e. no gate in the back fence). This can lead people (my wife, for one) to be undisciplined about locking the door between the garage and the back yard, in which case it's not uncommon for things to go missing from the garage. If you keep that door locked, and avoid keeping anything of real value in the garage, you should be fine.

[s3mh]

Buy it.  Alley access is so much better than having to give up a significant amount of your lot to a driveway for a front loader garage.  

 

Houses with alleys do provide criminals a better opportunity to break into garages because they cannot be seen from the street.  But if you are vigilant, you can greatly reduce if not eliminate the ability of criminals to prey on your property.  Make sure the garage is secure.  A lot of contractors in the Heights put in garages with cheap locks and no deadbolts on the doors.  Crooks often are able to just kick in the side door or muscle the garage door open to get access.  Make sure the garage is wired to the burglar alarm.  Many are not.  Make sure anything you store in your garage is secured.  Bikes need to be secured with a strong lock that is secured to something that cannot be removed with a screwdriver or crow bar.  Tools and golf clubs need to be locked up in storage cabinets with a strong lock on them.  And keep the garage locked at all times.  Even if you are home.  People have been robbed when they were working in the garage and went into the house to go to the bathroom for just a few minutes.  

 

Make sure that you do not park your car on the street with the garage door opener in it.  Criminals will break into the car to get the door opener and then get access to the garage.  Also, make sure the door to the back of the house is secure.  Too many people put in french doors or a door with a big window that is easy to smash open.  

 

All in all, I do not think the difference between houses with alleys and those without is at all significant if you are vigilant.  Criminals have no problem coming on to property from the street to steal stuff.  It is just that a lot of people with garages on the alley are careless and leave them open with valuables unsecured.  

 

 

[HAG]

Alley access resident here - no issues for me or anyone on my block since we bought 5yrs ago. As others have said, just take the necessary precautions and don't leave your door open (you can get timers that auto close it after so many minutes if you're worried about it).

 

Overall it's a nice amenity.

[s3mh]

Possible serial arsonist in the Heights and Lazybrook.  The other day I was walking my dog up Ashland and on Ashland between 17th and 18th and saw a vehicle with the gas tank open and the tire below it was flat.  There was something burnt in the street.  I thought it looked like someone tried to torch the car, but it also looked like it just had a tire blowout badly.  Other than the blown out tire, the vehicle wasn't damaged. 

 

Well, it looks like someone definitely tried to torch it as this was just a few blocks from a vehicle arson on Harvard and 18th St. on the same day.  Someone is also throwing Molotov Cocktails at houses in Lazybrook.  Gofundme for the victim of the arson on Harvard is below.  

 

I wonder whether the Heights Arsonist from 2009 is back?    

 

 

https://abc13.com/6871191/?ex_cid=TA_KTRK_FB&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+New+Content+(Feed)&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR24qilTeCmbx1E8ebtEfseVsVjOMMEj0u-iJvE_7Ab7uZ74aBlMZr5UIWc

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-brendan-and-lauren-recover-from-arson?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

 

http://swamplot.com/after-the-arsons-a-photo-tour-of-the-heights-fires/2009-11-18/