Houston Police Failing to Return Recovered Stolen Property to Victims

Stolen Property Not Returned to Victims

• 💡 Houston Police Department (HPD) is failing to return recovered stolen property to victims, even long after their cases are closed.
• 🎯 The clearance rate for burglary and theft cases in Houston is very low, making it a double blow when recovered property is not returned.

Victim Experiences with HPD Property Division

• 🚗 One victim had his stolen car recovered, but expensive jewelry that police also found was not returned for nearly 8 months after the suspect's case was closed.
• 💍 Another victim experienced a similar situation with her stolen wedding ring, which had been sitting in the HPD property room for over two years after the thief pleaded guilty.
• 🛠️ Recovered items include not only jewelry but also cameras, bicycles, AirPods, shoes, and power tools, all left in the property room.

Reasons for Delays and Proposed Solutions

• ⚠️ Victims feel victimized twice, first by the thieves and then by the police department's lack of follow-up and communication.
• 🤝 HPD's property division disposition team is reportedly working to resolve these cases and return property to the rightful owners.
• 📈 HPD aims to improve communication with the district attorney's office to ensure cases are properly closed and property is returned more quickly.
• 📞 Resources for crime victims seeking to retrieve their property from HPD are available online at khou.com.