Family's house burglarized; neighbors take photos of accused thieves

HOUSTON – Police are looking for four teens accused of burglarizing a home in the 11400 block of Landsdowne Drive in Westbury neighborhood.

A neighbor was able to take a few pictures of the suspects as they got into a white Honda.

“I feel sad for what looked like kids in the pictures,” explained Darren Sutherland whose home was broken into. “Number one, what’s the point but number two you didn’t get anything and you’re going to go to jail for it seems pretty stupid to me.”

Sutherland said they only took an Xbox, some jewelry, and roll of coins.

Sutherland said a little before 1:30 p.m. he received a notification from his security company that the alarm was going off, but thought it was a family member who had stopped by earlier or that maybe he set it incorrectly.

When he went home to check it out, he saw his neighbors outside and realized he had been burglarized.

“It looks like to me there’s a footprint here on the door,” said Sutherland in regards to the broken French door on the side of his home.

He said the suspected young burglars broke the window when the kicked in the door. They then kicked a hole in the wall where the security key pad is located.

“It’s unnerving, it’s unsettling, especially with a little one," said Sutherland’s wife, Jimmie, who was glad the family and their 2-year-old son were not home at the time.

“Obviously it feels like a violation, which it is, so it’s very frustrating,” she said.

The suspects took the Xbox from the living room, went into the bedroom and took a roll of coins, but threw it at the mounted TV in the bedroom first.

“I think they were being malicious and maybe they were upset that they really didn’t get a whole lot,” said Sutherland.

“I think it’s pretty much a smash and grab, get what you can as fast as you can,” said Jimmie. “I think with the alarm going off, the neighbor spotted someone outside, I think they were cut short, so they grabbed a few pieces of jewelry and managed to damage the home.“

The family said the jewelry was more sentimental that it was valuable.

While the burglars were on their way out, a neighbor took pictures of suspects, who looked like teens, getting into a white Honda.

“I also think it was very brave of the neighbor to do that, but I’m hoping that’s going to help get these put in jail or off the streets,” said Jimmie.

“If somebody recognizes the car, I’d hope they have good parents that teach them a lesson and they go to jail for a little while,” said Sutherland. “I also hope it’s their first time and seeing how amateurish they were, maybe it is, I don’t know, seems a little unlikely, but hopefully it’s their first time that they learn a lesson and never do it again.”

If you know anything about this crime call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

The Sutherland family said they changed their security setting with their alarm company so if the alarm goes off, police are contacted first rather than having the company call them first.

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