HOUSTON, TX– Last week, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office launched Operation Blitz, a coordinated effort with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Gulf Coast Criminal Investigators Association.
The goal of the operation was to disrupt organized retail theft operations and hold repeat offenders accountable for their actions. Since May 2024, Harris County has seen over 2,300 retail theft-related incidents.
“Organized retail crime is not just shoplifting; it’s a gateway to more dangerous criminal activity,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “These suspects often carry weapons, have open warrants, and are tied to broader networks. Through Operation Blitz, we’re sending a clear message: we are watching, and we are coming for you.”
In just the first two weeks of the operation, deputies arrested 12 individuals and recovered more than $4,000 in stolen merchandise. Many of those arrests uncovered even deeper issues, from drug possession to weapons violations and felony-level evading. One suspect, Kenneth Pilgreen, was a repeat offender with open warrants linked to thefts totaling over $42,000 from Home Depot and Lowe’s. Detectives filed an additional felony theft charge after connecting him to another active HCSO case.
HCSO has been working behind the scenes to dismantle larger organized retail theft crime rings. In one notable case, investigators arrested Nneka Owunna after tracking a network of 23 suspects believed to be targeting retailers for high-value cosmetics. A tip led deputies to an apartment complex, where they uncovered stolen merchandise being resold through Owunna’s Amazon storefront. According to investigators, it generated $1.1 million in sales in 2023.
Another significant case involved a mother-daughter duo, Ta Taneisha White and Johnette Jackson, along with four other suspects, accused of stealing more than $30,000 in fragrances and makeup from Sephora locations across the county. Jackson remains at large. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HCSO Office of Burglary and Theft at 713-274-9200.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says these cases show the far-reaching impact of retail crime and why sustained operations like Blitz are so crucial. Deputies will continue conducting targeted enforcement across Harris County throughout the year, both in uniform and undercover.
Watch the Video Here for an inside look into Operation Blitz.
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