Thieves break into 35 cars at one apartment complex

SUGAR LAND, Texas (FOX 26) - Thieves caused thousands of dollars in damage at a Fort Bend County apartment complex where dozens of cars were broken into.  More than 30 residents woke up to find their car windows shattered in the parking lot of the Sugar Land apartment complex on West Bellfort.     

All around the complex, car windows were being repaired when we stopped by the Marquis at Sugar Land apartments after dozens of cars, trucks and SUV’s were broken into over night.

“Right now we’re at about 35 reports,” says Major Chad Norvelle with the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.  Thirty-five residents awoke to find only shattered glass in their vehicles where windows once were.

"My entire window was gone, my wallet, my purse, my iPad, everything you shouldn’t leave in your car,” explains resident Hannah Gattis.

"Actually they didn’t take anything from mine.  They searched the glove box and the center console and that was it.  They saw I didn’t have any money in there so I guess they moved on,” adds resident Joe Pesl who had to miss work, losing wages, because of the broken window on his work truck.  He and all of the others also now have to pay to have the broken glass fixed.

"The window was about $150,” says Gattis.

"My window is around $150 as well,” adds Pesl.

"We’re hoping someone saw something or cameras caught something as we do our investigation out here,” says Major Norvelle.  Investigators have dusted for fingerprints and are checking surveillance video.  Detectives may have a promising lead because Gattis says the thieves have already shopped with her credit card.  "Yeah. So far they’ve spent about $300 at Walmart".

Major Norvelle says this is a good time to remind everyone, “Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle, especially guns.”  Major Norvelle says right now it seems guns are actually what many thieves are looking for.