The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Gulf Coast Criminal Investigators Association, has launched Operation Blitz.
The operation’s purpose is to disrupt organized retail theft schemes while also holding repeat offenders accountable.
“Organized retail crime is not just shoplifting; it’s a gateway to more dangerous criminal activity,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “These suspects often carry weapons, have open warrants, and are tied to broader networks. Through Operation Blitz, we’re sending a clear message: we are watching, and we are coming for you.”
Since May 2024, Harris County has recorded almost 2,300 retail theft-related incidents.
The operation began last week, and thus far, 12 persons have been detained and more than $4,000 in stolen products has been recovered.
“Many of those arrests uncovered even deeper issues, from drug possession to weapons violations and felony-level evading. One suspect, Kenneth Pilgreen, was a repeat offender with open warrants linked to thefts totaling over $42,000 from Home Depot and Lowe’s. Detectives filed an additional felony theft charge after connecting him to another active HCSO case‚” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies have been working behind the scenes to disrupt larger, organized retail theft gangs. One of these cases involves Nneka Owunna, who was apprehended after police tracked down a network of 23 defendants suspected of targeting high-end cosmetic businesses. A tip led officers to an apartment complex, where they discovered stolen products being resold via Owunna’s Amazon storefront. According to investigators, it made $1.1 million in sales in 2023.
In another case, Ta Taneisha White and Johnette Jackson, a mother-daughter combination, are suspected of stealing over $30,000 in fragrances and makeup from Sephora stores around the county, along with four other suspects. Jackson remains at large. Anyone with information can contact the HCSO Office of Burglary and Theft at 713-274-9200.