Parker County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division made several arrests in connection with a lumber theft ring.
Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier said five cases were solved with the arrests and more than $40,000 worth of stolen lumber and building materials were recovered during the theft investigation.
“Our Criminal Investigations Division was swift in tracking leads to identify the suspects in connection with numerous cases reported over the past few months,” said Sheriff Authier.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to several theft reports in the Aledo and Weatherford areas, where thieves took dozens of new windows valued at more than $5,000, dimensional lumber and hundreds of plywood Tech Shield Radiant Barrier(TSRB) sheets valued at more than $40,000 from new residential construction sites. Victims reported several hundred sheets of TSRB were stolen in June from construction sites located in the 200-Block of Open Sky Lane and the 100-Block of Crimson Sky Lane.
The investigation led the Sheriff’s CID investigators to the suspects in Fort Worth, where the stolen materials were stored at various residences. Security video recordings were obtained, capturing the suspects entering the Morning Star housing addition and taking the items from the construction sites and loading it into their trucks then fleeing the area. Sheriff’s investigators stated the suspects reportedly took building materials from construction sites located in Parker, Tarrant and Johnson Counties.
Investigators conducted surveillance at the addresses where the stolen materials had been stored discovering pallets of plywood and dimensional lumber were covered in tarps located in the backyards.
The suspects were identified as Ivan Dominguez, 19; Carlos Mendoza, 45; Octavio Perez, 18; and Nathan Baez, 17; all of Fort Worth.
Medoza remains incarcerated on felony theft charges with a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer as of today. His bond for the theft charge was set at $7,500.
Dominguez was released on a $15,000 bond Thursday for the felony theft charges.
Baez was arrested on felony theft charges June 25. He was released on a $7,500 bond.
Perez has an active warrant for felony theft. Investigators are seeking Perez’ current location.
Sheriff Authier said he would like to thank Fort Worth, Haltom City and Burleson Police Departments for their assistance in the investigations, and to Teague Lumber Fort Worth, Fort Worth Lumber Company, Simms Lumber Weatherford and Texas Door & Window Weatherford for their help throughout the investigation in identifying tracking numbers and generating the fair market value of stolen materials.
Sheriff Authier said the case is ongoing and additional charges are pending the investigation.
“Once the cases are completed, they will be forwarded to the Parker County District Attorney’s Office for prosecutions,” said Sheriff Authier. “Our investigators worked diligently to locate the suspects and recover the stolen building materials. All property was accounted for though proof of purchase with the assistance of the lumber companies. We are pleased to be able to return the stolen items to the victims.”
PRESS RELEASE provided by Parker County Sheriff’s Office
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