Tailgaters beware: Organized crime charges filed after thefts at A&M

A "Saw 'Em Off" sign is on display as Texas A&M fans tailgate before an NCAA college football game between Texas and Texas A&M at Kyle Field. A "Saw 'Em Off" sign is on display as Texas A&M fans tailgate before an NCAA college football game between Texas and Texas A&M at Kyle Field. Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close Tailgaters beware: Organized crime charges filed after thefts at A&M 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

A group of Texas A&M tailgaters recently found out the hard way that bringing a slew of electronics to your tailgating party could make you a target for thieves.

The morning after last weekend's Aggies-SMU game, A&M police arrested four people who had stolen an array of electronics -- flat-screen TVs and the like -- from tailgating camps near Kyle Field.

Police spokesman Lt. Allan Baron told The Eagle in Bryan-College Station that the four teen suspects from the A&M area said that they commited the thefts because they needed money.

The paper reported that Hunter Gromatzky, 18, Kameron Boyd, 21, and Shelly Garcia, 18, all of College Station, were all charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property. Dania Robinson, 17, was also charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, The Eagle said.

Baron suggested to the paper that if you are planning to bring high-dollar items to a tailgate, you should engrave them with your ID number and keep a record of the serial numbers on each item.

Looking at some of the FAQ sites for local tailgating hot spots like Reliant Park, BBVA Compass Stadium, and Rice Stadium, they don't offer any specific tips for not getting your TV, sound system, or any other party tool ripped off.

Baron's engraving tip is a pretty good start, though. The lack of overnight camping at places like Reliant probably cuts down on thefts. The best thing tailgaters can do is secure their property to vehicles or tables making it harder to boost.

It wouldn't be hard to put a TV in the back of your car and drive off from a tailgate at Reliant, but if you get caught you would probably be coughing up pieces of shoe for a few days after.

Kevin Cooper, senior director of communications with the Houston Texans, has some advice for fans at Texans tailgates.

Put away and secure all tailgating equipment before you go into the game.

Purchase a tailgate ticket and invite a friend to watch your tailgate equipment during the game.

Introduce yourself to your fellow tailgaters and gameday staff to raise awareness of who owns what.

Encourage fans to report suspicious behaviors or activity that doesn’t seem quite right.

Mark or record all serial numbers and receipts of expensive tailgate equipment.

Make permanent markings where appropriate identifying equipment as yours.