Police: Pair accused of targeting shoppers in Missouri City arrested, charged

Tony Lee Garner, 27, and Sherry Jean Millings, 26, are each charged with two burglary of a motor vehicle and one felony possession of a controlled substance. Tony Lee Garner, 27, and Sherry Jean Millings, 26, are each charged with two burglary of a motor vehicle and one felony possession of a controlled substance. Photo: Missouri City Police Photo: Missouri City Police Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Police: Pair accused of targeting shoppers in Missouri City arrested, charged 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

A man and a woman are in custody after authorities said they stole items, including a $400 purse, and attempted to burglarize vehicles from unsuspecting customers at Missouri City shopping centers.

Tony Lee Garner, 27, and Sherry Jean Millings, 26, are each charged with two burglary of a motor vehicle counts, and one felony possession of a controlled substance.

The pair is accused of trying to steal items from a car with the female driver still inside at the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center in the 10300 block of Highway 6 in Missouri City on Tuesday around noon.

The victim had just been eating, and was getting back into her car, when one of the suspects opened the passenger side door and attempted to snatch her purse, said Missouri City Police Capt. Paul Poulton.

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The woman would not let go of her purse and began yelling and honking the horn, which startled the suspect, who then fled, police said.

Less than 45 minutes later, the pair attempted to steal items from another woman just down the road as she was loading groceries in the parking lot at the Sienna Market HEB in the 8900 block of State Highway 6, according to a Missouri City incident report.

This time, the pair was successful, and drove off in a getaway car, police said.

Police caught up with Garner and Millings as they were leaving the shopping center a short time later.

Inside the vehicle, police found a $400 Michael Kors bag belonging to one of the victims and less than a gram of cocaine police said.

The two are currently at the Fort Bend County Jail.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.