Over the weekend, the Chronicle‘s Anne Marie Kilday reported on a surge in crime in southwest Houston:
Facing complaints that recent armed robberies and assaults have caused business to drop by 25 percent in southwest Houston’s Chinatown, Mayor Bill White and Police Chief Harold Hurtt are taking steps to put more police officers in the neighborhood.
The mayor and police chief met with Chinatown community and business leaders Wednesday, where they heard concerns about rising crime.
Though community leaders asked for officers to be posted at 13 specific locations, White said other “proven crime-solving techniques” would be used.
Because recent statistics show crime has increased in three police beats nearest to Chinatown, White and Hurtt said more officers will be dispatched to those three beats. In addition, undercover officers and detectives will be sent to “hot spots.” White also directed Hurtt to meet regularly with a neighborhood liaison to keep the community posted.
The Asian American community conference was called by Sugar Land City Councilman Daniel Wong, in response to several home invasions after shoppers or diners in Chinatown were followed home by armed robbers.
“The community is hurting, is scared, upset and angry, because we are not used to seeing these things happening in our community. We need immediate action on police visibility,” Wong said.
Kenneth Li, president of the Asian American Business Council, said the crime wave had caused “a noticeable drop in evening shopping and dining,” and potential investors were reconsidering plans to put money into the neighborhood.
Three community leaders recounted a series of violent and brazen crimes that had recently been committed in the Chinatown Southwest area, a popular shopping district centered at Bellaire and Corporate.
Unfortunately, violent and brazen crimes are on the rise in too many parts of Houston. It’s too bad there aren’t enough cops for a “surge” all across town.
