The Break-In
While visiting her aunt in Texas City, Griffin received an alert from her ADT security system. Just before 9 p.m. on February 12, burglars broke into her home by knocking down a section of her fence to gain access to her property. The thieves then removed an air conditioner and climbed through the window to enter the house.
“I was just laying down at her house, and the alarm went off. ADT called me to let me know,” Griffin said. Watching through her security cameras, she saw a man ransacking her home.
“I called the police immediately,” she added, describing the moment she saw the intruder inside her home.
A Slow Police Response
Griffin said it took multiple calls before an officer arrived. “It was probably around three calls before we got any help,” she said. Meanwhile, her landlord and a neighbor saw two other men waiting outside while the burglary was in progress. The suspect inside the home eventually triggered an alarm, causing the burglars to flee.
Despite filing a police report shortly after the incident, Griffin is still waiting for further action from law enforcement. She says an investigator has yet to be assigned. “I’ve called three times, and every time I call, they seem very nonchalant about it,” she said. “I even asked them about their procedures, but they couldn’t explain anything.”
A Community Concern
Griffin believes the lack of urgency in her case may be linked to the neighborhood’s demographics.
“I feel like they don’t care because we live in a high-crime area,” Griffin said. “The burglars know they don’t have to worry about the cops showing up fast, and it makes me feel unsafe here.”
The Impact on Her Sense of Safety
The break-in has left Griffin shaken. “The first night I slept here after the robbery, it was torture,” she recalled. “I felt like I had to protect myself. I live alone, so it took me a week to be able to sleep again.”
The burglars stole a tennis bracelet and other jewelry worth approximately $1,300. Despite security footage capturing the break-in, no arrests have been made so far.
What’s Next?
The Houston Police Department (HPD) has not confirmed whether an investigator has been assigned to the case but assured that they plan to have someone look into it soon.
For now, Griffin is still waiting for answers and hopes the suspect seen on video will be caught.
A Call to Action
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. HPD is actively seeking any tips that could help lead to an arrest.
