When someone is arrested for a crime, police often look to other unsolved incidents in the hopes of connecting suspects in custody and closing two cases at once. At times, this practice could lead investigators to narrowly focus their vision. Evidence is often circumstantial, fitting more than a handful of theories. When charged with a crime, it is important to seek experienced defense counsel to protect not only your constitutional rights but ensure that the facts are kept straight.
Three men were recently arrested on theft charges in Houston, Texas after an alleged gun store burglary on Jan. 14, 2012. There have been several break-ins across the region and officials have announced their suspicions that the men arrested in Houston could be tied to a Brazos County burglary as well. The Brazos County incident was reported on Dec. 17, 2011. Five men were allegedly involved in that incident.
According to reports, there have been a total of eight alleged break-ins across the region in the past six weeks. A total of 274 weapons have been reported as stolen, some of them from the Great Texas Gun Company.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been involved in the investigations, and an agent shared the department’s belief that the stolen weapons have been shared across state lines, making it a federal issue. He claims that a gun used in an unrelated crime in a different state could be traced back to the Great Texas Gun Company theft. It is unclear at this point whether the three men will be charged in the Dec. 17 incident.
Source: KBTX.com, “Gun Theft Ring In Houston Has Possible Ties To Brazos County,” Clay Falls, Jan. 27, 2012