40 arrested in Harris County for looting

A boat travels along a flooded road through the Lakes On Eldridge Parkway in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. A boat travels along a flooded road through the Lakes On Eldridge Parkway in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 116 Caption Close 40 arrested in Harris County for looting 1 / 116 Back to Gallery

The thought of cash and Newport cigarettes may have been too tempting.

Burglars armed with a brick broke into a Walgreens near Brays Bayou, joining dozens of looters, thieves and scammers working across the Houston area in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

By midday Wednesday, more than 40 people had been arrested for looting in Houston and surrounding areas, with reports of looting stretching as far north as Kingwood and as far south as Texas City.

A citywide curfew remains in effect from midnight to 5 a.m. is helping police agencies keep the criminals at bay, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday.

"It was effective," he said. "It's going to remain in effect until we kind of get past the situations we're in."

TARGETS: Looters target Houston police officers, firefighters, union official says

Officials warned residents to beware of scammers, as well, offering services door-to-door with fake stories of being police officers or contractors hoping to help.

Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said no one was arrested for a curfew violation during the first night Tuesday.

"It provides us a tool to keep people safe," he said.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said she is working with area law enforcement agencies to ensure that anyone caught looting in the wake of Hurricane Harvey would be prosecuted under a state law that allows enhanced punishments, including the possibility of life sentences for thieves arrested for breaking into homes.

On Tuesday, she credited local, state and federal law enforcement officers who have been working round-the-clock to catch thieves and burglars breaking into homes and businesses in flooded areas and torrential downpours.

Stores hit for cash, liquor, cellphones

The Walgreens at 5300 N Braeswood Boulevard was still boarded up Wednesday after looters used bricks to break in late Monday night. A store employee said the looters could not get into the pharmacy, but were able to take money out of three cash registers and several packs of Newport cigarettes.

They left behind over-the-counter drugs, wines and expensive perfumes.

Although the curfew was in effect a day later, a Fiesta Mart grocery store in east Houston on Interstate 10 near Loop 610 had as many as 20 looters break in to steal money and cell phones.

They also ransacked the adjacent liquor store and demolished a cash register.

"Fiesta is disappointed that a small number of individuals chose to take advantage of the emergency situation to loot and steal from one of our stores," said Nelly Castillo, a spokeswoman for the chain. "This disturbing activity will delay the re-opening of this store, as we make repairs caused by the vandals. Nevertheless, Fiesta will re-open the store as quickly as possible."

North of town, the Houston Police Department confirmed reports of looting in Kingwood, but no further information was immediately available.

Scammers were also out in force. In the towns of Dickinson and Texas City south of Houston, San Leon volunteer firefighter Jody Garcia said people posing as firefighters were telling residents to evacuate their homes, then taking their possessions.

In some areas, homeowners fought back.

Garcia said he tried to rescue a Dickinson couple late Tuesday who were stranded on the second floor of a home. The man pulled a shotgun on him, instead, telling him to leave. The Dickinson Police Department was called.

'Do not exit home with firearm'

Reports also surfaced of people impersonating Homeland Security Investigations special agents, knocking on doors and telling residents to evacuate, presumably to rob their homes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

The agency urged the people to ask to see credentials. Real agents wear badges labeled "special agent," and ICE officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations wear badges labeled "ERO."

They carry credentials with their name and organization.

The agency said it is not conducting any immigration enforcement operations in affected areas during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

In the southwest part of the county, a man in his mid 30s with a badge, a gun on his hip and a police windbreaker knocked on several doors in an elevated Missouri City subdivision to tell residents they needed to evacuate. Those people called police, who confirmed that there was no evacuation order in place. Missouri City police did not return calls about whether anyone was arrested.

West of Houston, Memorial Villages police warned residents of a man they suspect was attempting to scam residents under the false pretense of offering help, said MVPD Chief Ray Schultz.

"He had freshly made up flyers that said 'Flood Restoration,'" Schultz said. "He had an old broken carpet cleaner with him but no other supplies. While checking him out, he was found to have a criminal history and no valid ID in his possession. I am absolutely certain he was looking to victimize an unsuspecting resident."

The man was last seen in a black Ford Expedition with a temporary license plate. The chief advised to use only reputable restoration contractors, saying legitimate companies have business licenses, addresses and license plate numbers.

The chief cautioned that tense times in the aftermath of the flood can lead to tragic consequences.

"Do not challenge the individual yourself," Schultz said. "Do not exit your home with a firearm under any circumstance. We do not want any tragedies or accidents."

Chronicle reporters Jaimy Jones, Lomi Kriel, Mike Morris, David Olinger and Monica Rhor contributed to this account.