Thursday, March 28, 2024

Double Oak Police Beat

Double Oak Police Chief Derrick Watson

I’m going to revisit last month’s column with some updates for August. During the months of July and August, Double Oak has experienced multiple, unwelcome, intrusions of vehicles and storage sheds. Various items including a wallet, credit cards, cash and lawn care equipment have been stolen. As always, circumstances vary, but some themes run throughout the offenses. Please, please, please don’t leave vehicles, sheds and residences unlocked and accessible to unknown persons. Please don’t leave laptops, purses, wallets, firearms and keys inside of vehicles.

We know that the involved suspect(s) are operating under the cover of night. It is a common car burglar tactic to go “car-hopping” and try the door handles on every car in a neighborhood to determine which vehicle is unlocked. During the early morning of August 3 we had at least two suspects enter vehicles on Oak Grove Circle, Cross Timbers Drive and Tanglewood. We have a substantiated report that an unknown person tried to enter a house through a window on Tanglewood. The suspect(s) ran when the homeowner screamed and then ran outside to get a better look at the offenders (please call the police rather than running outside!). It is of note that the overwhelming majority of the cars and sheds entered into were unlocked.

We have made two arrests for theft for offenses that occurred in Double Oak. On both occasions the homeowners were able to provide detailed descriptions of the missing items to the investigating officers. I know that law enforcement used to urge people to engrave high value items or to write down serial numbers for valuables. I recommend you take cell phone photographs of high dollar items such as jewelry, electronics, firearms etc. It only takes a moment to document the item with a cellphone picture (please take a photo of the data plate/serial number) and then to store that picture in an email or in the “cloud.” It helps our investigations immeasurably and will be of great assistance with any insurance claims you might file. I can’t stress clearly enough that two arrests does not equal all the involved suspects. I am positive there are more offenders working our neighborhoods and surrounding communities.

If you observe an unknown person(s) in your neighborhood late at night walking up driveways, or looking in car windows, or carrying lawn care equipment, that is all suspicious activity. Please contact dispatch via 9-1-1 (preferable if the person or vehicle is still in your neighborhood) or 972-434-5500 so the on-duty officer can investigate. A description of the person(s) to include clothing and their location is extremely helpful as well as a description of any vehicles you see in the area associated with the suspicious person.

It is of note that these offenses probably took place during the early morning and under the cover of darkness. Both vehicles were parked in their respective driveways and required that the suspect(s) approach the vehicles on foot.

This offense is currently under investigation. If you have any information that may be of assistance please contact Investigator C. Murphy at 972-355-5995.

Please report all suspicious activity to your local Police Department by calling 911. 

Recent Police Calls 

Fraudulent Use / Possession of Identifying Information – 6100 blk. Pepperport Ln., Double Oak – An unknown suspect attempted to gain access to a resident’s banking account.

Burglary of a Building – 300 blk. Highland Ct., Double Oak – During the night of 07-22 or early morning 07-23-17 an unknown suspect(s) entered the complainant’s storage shed and took lawn care equipment, valued at over $1,000, without permission.

Burglary of a Building – 500 blk. Kings Rd., Double Oak – During the night of 07-22 or early morning 07-23-17 an unknown suspect(s) entered the complainant’s storage shed and took lawn care equipment, valued at over $1,000, without permission.

Burglary of a Building / Arrest – 200 blk. Ridgebriar Ln., Double Oak – During the night of 07-22-17 or early morning 07-23-17 a suspect(s) broke into the complainant’s storage shed and took a nail gun, drill, power washer and a stereo total loss estimated at over $2,000.  An investigation into the offense resulted in the recovery of the missing tools and the arrest, on 08-11-17, of Anthony Don Minor, male 47 years of age.  Mr. Minor is currently in the Denton County Jail on a hold for the Texas Department of Corrections and a felony theft warrant from the Double Oak Police Department.

Theft / Arrest – 200 blk. Valley View Trl., Double Oak, TX – Denton County Sheriff’s Department notified Double Oak PD that Samuel Cole Shields, Male 17 years of age was arrested for a Double Oak Warrant – Theft (State Jail Felony).  The Complainant reported that multiple watches, jewelry and a firearm were taken from their residence in the 200 blk. Valley View Trl., Double Oak on or about 07-05-2017.

Criminal Trespass – 8300 blk. Justin Rd., Double Oak – A verbal altercation resulted in one person receiving a criminal trespass notification from a property owner.

Burglary of a Building – 200 blk. Valley View Trl., Double Oak – A resident reported that an unknown suspect(s) cut the lock on their tool shed and removed a tile cutter and a chainsaw without permission.

Animal Complaint – 100 Kyle Ct., Double Oak – Officer responded to a pony running loose.  The officer helped corral the animal and locate the pony’s owner.

Criminal Trespass – 100 blk., Tanglewood, Double Oak – At approximately 2:49 a.m. a resident reported an unknown suspect trying to enter their home through prying on a window.  The resident screamed, ran outside in an attempt to get a better look at the suspect, and then called for the police.  Officer was unable to locate the suspect.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 100 blk., Tanglewood, Double Oak – During the early morning hours an unknown suspect entered multiple vehicles, that were parked in the complainant’s driveway, and removed a wallet and multiple credit cards.  The credit cards were used later in the morning at multiple discount store locations to purchase electronics.  During daylight hours a helpful resident on Oak Grove Circle found the complainant’s wallet and turned it over to law enforcement.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 400 blk. Cross Timbers Dr., Double Oak – During the early morning hours an unknown suspect entered multiple vehicles, that were parked in the complainant’s driveway, and removed a wallet, credit cards and cash.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 400 blk. Cross Timbers Dr., Double Oak – During the early morning hours an unknown suspect entered multiple vehicles, that were parked in the complainant’s driveway, and removed a temporary Texas driver’s license.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 400 blk. Cross Timbers Dr., Double Oak – A car was entered into, without permission, and the contents of the glove box were emptied out.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 400 blk. Cross Timbers Dr., Double Oak – A resident reported that multiple vehicles, parked at their home, had been entered into without permission.  Nothing noted missing at the time of the report.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 500 blk. Cross Timbers Dr., Double Oak – A resident reported that multiple vehicles, parked at their home, had been entered into without permission.  Nothing noted missing at the time of the report.

Assist Agency – Argyle, TX – Double Oak Officer responded, at approximately 4:39 a.m., to assist Argyle PD with securing the scene of a murder investigation.  Officer helped secure the perimeter of the offense location until arrival of crime scene personnel from the Denton County Sheriff’s Office.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 100 blk. Oak Grove Circle, Double Oak – Complainant noticed that his travel trailer had been entered, without permission, and the interior of the trailer had been rifled through.  Nothing noted missing at the time of the report.

Failure To Leave ID at Accident – 5900 blk. Pepperport Ln., Double Oak – An AT&T representative reported that a vehicle had struck one of their cable junction boxes.

Burglary of a Building – 200 blk. Valley View Ln., Double Oak – Complainant reported that an unknown person entered a storage building, without permission, and removed a portable generator valued at approximately $350.  Complainant believes the item was taken in the previous two weeks.

Burglary of a Vehicle – 200 blk. Oak Grove Circle, Double Oak – Complainant reported that an unknown person had entered her horse trailer and rummaged through the contents.  There is nothing missing at this time.

Criminal Mischief – 100 blk. East View Ct., Double Oak – Officer was on patrol when he was flagged down by a resident who reported that their residential door had suffered approximately $100 dollars in damage the previous week.

Public Intoxication / Arrest – 200 blk. Oak Trail, Double Oak – A homeowner found a male sleeping in his backyard.  Further investigation resulted in the arrest of Preston Braugh, 22 year old male, for alleged public intoxication.

Animal Complaint – 200 blk. Simmons Rd., Double Oak – A concerned person reported a horse they believed was too thin and not being taken care of properly.  Animal Control was notified.

Criminal Trespass – 200 blk. Valley View, Double Oak – The complainant reported a former dating acquaintance entered his house without permission and had to be physically removed.  The former acquaintance was issued a criminal trespass warning.

CTG Staff
CTG Staff
The Cross Timbers Gazette News Department

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