More than a dozen people are facing upgraded disaster-time charges in Harris County, District Attorney Kim Ogg tells KPRC 2, accused of targeting homes and businesses dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
Speaking exclusively with KPRC 2′s Bryce Newberry, Ogg said additional enhanced charges are possible.
“If you try and kick us while we’re down, we’re going to punch you back even harder,” Ogg said.
Under Texas law, prosecutors can upgrade the degree of certain charges, like assault, burglary, or theft, if the crime happens during a declared disaster.
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Acting Gov. Dan Patrick added Harris County to the list of counties under a disaster declaration on July 6, as Hurricane Beryl approached the Gulf Coast.
“An enhancement is an upgrade of charges that carries more punishment. And it’s designed to deter people who would take advantage of people who are trying to deal with disaster,” Ogg said.
So far, HPD has announced the arrest of 12 individuals since Hurricane Beryl made landfall, accused of targeting homes and businesses that have been without power, but court records show not all 12 of them are facing enhanced charges.
But four of the individuals arrested allegedly broke into a home to steal electricity from a victim, records show, and they are now facing enhanced burglary charges.
The department announced their arrests late Friday on X.
ARRESTED: Our officers caught these 4 suspects in the act of breaking into 2 businesses out of power from #HurricaneBeryl.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) July 12, 2024
Early on Weds. (July 10), three of the suspects targeted a business at 5902 Eastwood St. and the other suspect at 10008 Gulf Fwy.#hounews
1/2 pic.twitter.com/rluheVtZpq
As an example, Ogg said burglarizing a home is usually a second-degree felony eligible for two to 20 years in prison, but if committed during a disaster, it becomes a first-degree felony punishable by five years up to life in prison.
“People are more vulnerable. Victims are more plentiful. And so, it’s designed as a deterrent in the law to keep people from committing these crimes when folks are already hurting,” Ogg said.
Montrose restaurant targeted by thieves after Beryl
About 48 hours after Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, SALA Thai Eatery in Montrose was hit by two burglars around 6:30 Wednesday morning.
The burglars broke the glass front door and spent just a few minutes in the restaurant. All of it was captured on surveillance video shared with KPRC 2.
“It was really quick. It was professional in a way,” server Chanon Yongsanguanchai said. “[The thieves] stole most of our liquor, like the expensive ones, and our safe was also missing.”
Surveillance video showed the crooks shining flashlights around cabinets, loading up an estimated thousands of dollars’ worth of liquor and stealing an employee’s Yeezys.
The damaged front door didn’t get replaced until Friday afternoon.
“A lot of cars came into the parking lot and turned around because they thought we were closed so... that disrupted our business a lot,” Yongsanguanchai said. “In times of need and then people are still not helping each other out, and they just take advantage of different people... I think it’s unacceptable and they should be facing a bigger charge than usual.”
The restaurant has continued doing business despite the setback.
“We were lucky to survive the storm,” Yongsanguanchai said.
The restaurant hopes someone will recognize the brazen post-Beryl burglars, who targeted their business just two months into opening.
Any tips can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.