Region 1 News
Region 1a Director:  Dale Binkert, Denton Police Department
Region 1b Director:  Gary King, Tyler Police Department
Region 1c Director:  Wayne Browning, Fort Worth Police Department
Region 1d Director:  Ivette Haley, Fort Worth Police Department

Submitted by Ivette Haley

Fort Worth Police Department has noted a recent trend in the following being stolen:  (1) older 1979 through 1985 Chevrolet Caprice Classics, (2) eight to nine-year-old Ford Crown Victorias, (3) business-owned 16-20 foot cargo (enclosed) box trailers with company names and logos on the sides, and (4) flatbed trailers holding welders, commercial mowers, or other high-dollar equipment.  Almost all of these recent thefts have either been recovered in another city or stolen from another city.  The Ford Crown Victorias have either been stolen from or recovered in Dallas.  The thefts of the Caprice Classics do not appear to be linked to any other city, particular group, or individual at this time, and they appear to be a local crime at this time.     

Looking into the business-owned trailer thefts led the auto theft section of FWPD to begin a special on-going surveillance detail.  We got a break when three unknown suspects attempted to steal a trailer loaded with welders from a Haltom City business.  HCPD was able to catch one of the involved accomplices (we'll call him "Dink") who named another individual (let’s just call him “Bobo”).   This individual’s name and home address kept cropping up in the auto theft offices.   Various out-of-town stolen items (personal watercraft, motorcycles, boat trailers, commercial pressure washing equipment, cargo trailers, etc.) had been recovered at the home or nearby in recent months.  The surveillance detail was set up and went into effect Wednesday 05-14-08.  Surveillance established that Bobo was actively “shopping” for trailers throughout Tarrant County and Parker County.   

Surveillance resulted in Bobo being observed a few days later stealing a trailer from Arlington, TX, and returning with it to his home.  He stored it in his back yard.  An unseen Bobo fled the scene prior to FWPD Sgt. C. Hays and Detective W. Browning approaching his residence.  They questioned a second person found leaving the same address.  The additional secondary suspect apparently involved in the Arlington trailer theft was identified and taken into custody on an outstanding Tarrant County SO warrant.  Det. Browning obtained consent to search from the property owner resulting in the trailer and contents being recovered intact.  The area was searched, but Bobo could not be found.   

The investigation continues and warrants will issue.  Links have been found to more than one recent theft involving Bobo as a potential primary suspect. 

Submitted by Jerry Sadler, LoJack

On January 28, 2008, a welder from the Houston area was working in Fort Worth. He stopped at a service station in the 1500 block of E. Berry Street and left his 2000 Ford F350 running while he and his partner went inside. The truck had a welder on the back, along with several tool boxes and other valuable items. As he exited the store, he saw his truck being driven away. He notified the Fort Worth Police of the theft. He also advised them the vehicle was equipped with LoJack.

The reporting officer had the vehicle entered into NCIC, and this activated the hidden LoJack transmitter inside the stolen Ford. Within minutes of the activation, a Fort Worth patrol officer picked up the silent signal and started tracking the stolen vehicle. The track led officers to a welding business in the 2300 block of E. Rosedale Drive. The officers could now see four suspects with the vehicle attempting to remove items from the back of the truck. All four suspects were detained, and auto theft investigators were notified.  Fort Worth Detective B. Holbert went to the location.  The owner of the business advised which of the four had driven the vehicle to the location.  He was placed under arrest for auto theft. The owner of the truck came to the location, and he advised there were various expensive items missing. The other three suspects were arrested after it was determined they were involved with removing and selling items from the truck.

Detective Holbert was able to go to three different locations with the suspects and recover the missing items. All equipment was recovered with the exception of one small step-ladder. The three suspects were taken to jail and charged with theft.

The owner advised he was surprised to get all the equipment back and credited the Fort Worth Police Department with the rapid recovery. He advised he had LoJack installed on the vehicle when he bought it in Baytown, Texas in 1999.