Burglary suspect accused of targeting Hurricane Harvey victim

Alert neighbors, Nextdoor app help Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 5

Provided by the Harris County Constable's Office, Precinct 5

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The Nextdoor app led to the arrest of a man accused of breaking into houses in the Maplewood neighborhood in Harris County, Constable's Office Precinct 5 investigators said Friday.

Arthur Douglas, 56, now faces charges in connection with a November home burglary in the 5700 block of Braeswood Boulevard.

Recommended Videos



Here's how the situation unfolded: The home burglarized in November was vacant at the time, after it flooded during Hurricane Harvey. The homeowner, upon learning what happened, posted photos, taken from surveillance cameras, on the Nextdoor app. The photos showed Douglas stealing a television and pulling it out through a back window, according to a news release from the Constable's Office.

Just this week, when Douglas knocked on several other doors of homes in the same neighborhood, posing as a renovation contractor, one homeowner recognized Douglas from the posted photos and called authorities.

An investigator from Constable Ted Heap's office was able to obtain information from Douglas possibly connecting him to other break-ins in the area, the release said.

Based on this information, Douglas was charged with burglary of a habitation.

Harris County Precinct 5 is working with the Houston Police Department to determine if there are other similar cases in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to visit this Crime Tips webpage.