KTRK-13’s Ted Oberg and KHOU-11’s Amy Tortolani seem to have attended the same briefing on shoplifing and MS-13.
Here’s an excerpt from Oberg’s reporting:
Organized crime is active in Houston and police say the crooks are everywhere. They’re ripping off stores, driving up prices and then selling the loot right back to the victims — with the profits paying the bills for groups like the violent gang MS 13.
It’s shoplifting, but on a scale never before seen here. Police say the scheme costs Houston businesses a million dollars every month. It is a problem so widespread that law enforcement is at times helpless to stop it. A million dollars a month in Houston means $30 billion a year nationwide. Chances are it’s going on right now and costing you money every time you buy over the counter drugs.
[snip]
We’re told the thieves work six days a week. They told cops they take Sundays off for religious reasons. Go figure.
[snip]
Detectives tell us there is little, if any, risk to the public. The crime rings apparently don’t tamper with the medications at all. This is a money maker for the crime rings, and tampered products can’t be sold.
Here’s an excerpt from Tortolani’s reporting:
Shoplifting may seem like a relatively small crime, but Houston authorities say the gang of shoplifters they’ve arrested had links to organized crime and possibly even terrorists.
[snip]
“Nationwide criminal enterprise operates with Houston as hub,” said Sgt. Johnnie Jezierski with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
[snip]
Investigators say those captured admit ties to notorious gangs.
“We know because of the interviews with some of these people, pressure put on them by MS13 members to go out and commit these offenses,” said Detective Frazee. “And, according to what they told us, part of the money they make is funneled into MS13 area.”
[snip]
We contacted the FBI about these crimes and local agents tell us they are aware of the ties to MS13 but can’t comment on any ties to terrorism.
HPD doesn’t much like to talk about MS-13, and it’s not clear from the reporting if HPD was part of this briefing. It does seem clear that other law-enforcement agencies believe MS-13 is operating an organized crime ring in our city, however.
UPDATE (12-01-2005): KPRC-2 covered the apparent briefing also.
