Four Houston residents were arrested last week for allegedly burglarizing a Tomball Goodwill store and police believe the suspects had hit the same location on five previous occasions.

Elmer Calderon, 27, Maria Diaz, and two juveniles, one age 14 and another age 16, all of Houston, were arrested March 28 and charged with Organized Criminal Activity – Burglary, after they were discovered by a Tomball police officer in the process of burglarizing the Goodwill store located at 28541 Tomball Parkway.

According to Capt. Rick Grassi of the Tomball Police Department, Officer Juan Barrera was on routine patrol at approximately 11:20 p.m. when he surveyed the Goodwill facility that had been the victim of “various burglaries and criminal mischief in the past.”

Barrera saw a black Lincoln Navigator on the scene, which was occupied by a Hispanic male. According to Grassi, as Barrera approached the vehicle and began his investigation, the suspect “appeared very nervous as he continued to look around the area.”

Barrera discovered “various items” in the back of the Navigator and called for back up. When officers arrived and searched the area, they found three other suspects hiding inside a Goodwill semi trailer located behind the building.

According to Grassi, the trailers are owned by Goodwill and utilized as storage containers to house donated items until they are processed for sale in the store. Each of the four suspects were arrested and later charged. The two adults were transported to the Tomball Police Department Jail, while the two juveniles were taken to the Harris County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Grassi explained that the suspects were charged with an organized crime charge “due to the fact that three or more people collaborated in the burglary.” The charge enhances the offense by one category, making it a third degree felony.

He added that during the department’s follow-up investigation, officers believe the suspects may also responsible for five previous burglaries at the Goodwill store.

Grassi said he did not know if the suspects were legal or illegal residents of the U.S.

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