West Houston neighbors on edge after string of home break-ins caught on camera

Homeowners in a West Houston neighborhood say they are frustrated and fearful after a series of home break-ins and thefts that have gone unsolved for months, despite many of the incidents being captured on surveillance video.

The incidents are happening in the Wilchester neighborhood, just west of Wilcrest Drive and south of Interstate 10. Neighbors say nearly every case has been recorded on doorbell or home security cameras, yet no arrests have been made.

Along Pebblebrook Drive alone, residents report at least five incidents since October. In each case, neighbors say the suspect appeared to be looking for easy opportunities, such as an unlocked door, an open gate, or valuables left within reach.

One video from Oct. 22 shows a young man attempting to enter an unlocked side door of a home. The homeowner later reported that $8 was taken from a kitchen table before the suspect ran off.

Another video from the same night, recorded just houses away, shows a man running through a front yard decorated for Halloween. That homeowner said a wallet was stolen. Nearby, surveillance footage captured a scooter being taken and ridden away.

“It feels like we’re constantly on alert,” said resident Shyla Funk. “We have a neighborhood group text, and we’re always asking, ‘Do you know who this is?’ We’re at the point where we’re paranoid.”

Residents say they’ve spent months sharing videos and information with one another, hoping it might lead to answers. But the thefts continued.

Just before Christmas, Cindy Segrest’s son, who was home from college, became the latest victim.

“My son’s car was parked in front of our house, and it was gone through,” Segrest said. “They stole over $5,000 worth of stuff. He had been on a hunting trip, and one of the things stolen was a pistol.”

Both the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there are case numbers for the reported incidents. However, it is unclear whether investigators have been assigned to actively work on the cases.

“I know the police department has much bigger fish to fry,” Segrest said. “It’s just the fact that these burglaries have been going on in our neighborhood, around Rummel Creek, for months.”

For now, neighbors say they’re doing what they can, including staying vigilant, locking cars and gates, sharing surveillance footage, and hoping the suspects eventually make a mistake.

“We’re tired of it. We’re annoyed,” Funk said. “We have a great street. We just want to live in peace. We don’t want to worry about who’s in the backyard or going through our cars.”

Residents say they hope increased awareness and attention will help bring an end to the ongoing thefts.

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