Colleyville Police have successfully apprehended two suspects, 25-year-old Christopher L. Thomas from Katy, Texas, and 20-year-old Rickey Smith from Houston, in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries that occurred in the parking lot of a local gym in November 2024.
The first set of burglaries took place on November 7, 2024, when four vehicles were broken into within the span of one hour. In each case, the suspects smashed the windows of the vehicles, stealing various items, including wallets and cash. The stolen bank cards were later used at a local retailer. Unfortunately, the vehicles were parked in areas not visible to the gym’s security cameras, preventing authorities from obtaining footage of the suspects' license plate numbers.
A second wave of burglaries occurred on November 23, 2024, when four more vehicles were targeted in the same gym parking lot. The suspect(s) again smashed the windows and stole items, including a handgun. Once again, the stolen bank cards were used at a nearby retailer.
Following the second set of burglaries, Colleyville Detective Garcia obtained video footage from a local Walmart, showing the suspects attempting to use the stolen cards. This footage was critical in identifying the suspects. Through investigative efforts and collaboration with local police, Thomas and Smith were linked to the crimes.
Detective Garcia secured arrest warrants for both suspects, charging them with eight counts of Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and four counts of Credit/Debit Card Abuse. Due to Thomas’s prior criminal history, which includes previous convictions for Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, each of his burglary charges was enhanced to a felony.
Smith was arrested by the Houston Police Department on November 25, 2024, and Thomas was apprehended by the San Antonio Police Department on December 18, 2024. Both suspects are now facing serious charges for their involvement in the thefts and the subsequent fraudulent use of stolen credit and debit cards.
Colleyville Police are urging the public to take valuables with them and avoid leaving weapons in vehicles, especially in public areas such as gym parking lots. The department also expressed appreciation for the security video, investigative work, and cooperation from local retailers, which ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
