HOUSTON – Theft reports and car break-ins are the crimes mostly likely to result in a call to police at Houston-area malls, a Local 2 Investigates' review of police reports shows.
Local 2 Investigates reviewed a year's worth of police "calls for service" for a variety of crimes including thefts, shoplifting, burglaries, car break-ins, disturbances, forgeries, trespassing, hit-and-runs and stolen cars. Calls coded as a traffic stop were not included.
The top five malls for the most calls to police are:
1. The Woodlands Mall, 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380 -- about 461 calls for service.
2. Katy Mills, 5000 Katy Mills Cir, Katy, TX 77494 -- about 308 calls for service.
3. Galleria, 5085 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056 -- about 215 calls for service.
4. Centre at Post Oak, 5000 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77056 -- about 195 calls for service.
5. Greenspoint Mall, 12300 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77060 -- about 180 calls for service.
Some calls for service are coded as one type of crime and as more information becomes available the type of crime may change, but the call for service may still show the original type of call.
Police said it's no surprise that the big malls with many customers rank high on our list. Calls for service don't always mean a crime has been committed.
Katy Mills sees an estimated 12 million customers a year, according to General Manager Don Massey. He said his mall adds additional security around the holidays.
The mall also has 24-hour patrol and monitored cameras, he told Local 2 investigative reporter Jace Larson.
Massey said some of the crimes Local 2 counted don't affect everyday shoppers. He cited shoplifting as one example.
"The statistics don't necessarily mean they are shopper-related or safety-related," Massey said.
Houston police warn shoppers against giving crooks a roadmap to your valuables while shopping this holiday season.
"If you get a location and open up your truck and throw your valuables in there and then go inside, all you've done is advertise it to anyone watching," Houston Police Auto Theft Detective Jim Woods told Local 2. "There's a good chance someone is watching."
Woods suggests people not leave gifts in their cars, even if that means driving home to drop off gifts before doing more shopping.
"If you drive an SUV or a van, realize there is no secure place to store your property," Woods said.
If you have a tip for investigative reporter Jace Larson, email, call or text him at jlarson@kprc.com or 832-493-3951.
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