HOUSTON – A southwest Houston family is desperate for help after thieves ransacked one of their homes and started stealing some of the surveillance cameras they installed as a deterrent.
The couple owns two neighboring homes on Bellaire Boulevard near Highway 59; one home is used for storage.
"You think they're paying attention, they know when you're home and when you're not, how long you'll be gone?" asked Local 2's Robert Arnold.
"Right," said Nai Wu Lin.
"I got to work," said Dr. Chai Chin Lin.
In the home the family uses for storage thieves knocked a hole in the ceiling and ripped out the air conditioner, trying to get at copper wiring.
The family says the thieves even took the change left in their children's piggy banks. Windows were smashed and piles of trash were seen everywhere throughout the home. The thieves also appeared to take their time judging by the empty beer cans and cigarette packs found by the family.
"My husband is not a smoker, I'm not a smoker," said Lin.
The family installed surveillance cameras, but the couple said the thieves have started stealing the cameras. The couple showed Local 2 one piece of video where what appears to be a man's shadow is seen under the camera as it starts moving back and forth before the feed cuts off and the screen goes black.
Another piece of video showed a man waving to one of the cameras as he walks by and steals a package off the couple's doorstep.
The family said the package contained a new camera that was purchased to replace cameras stolen from their home.
If you have any information about these crimes please call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.