Reward offered in daytime burglaries
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

A reward is being offered for help finding those responsible for breaking into six vehicles at three popular local entertainment venues.

Between 8:45 a.m. and 5:10 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, vehicles parked at the El Campo Bowling Center, Silver Wings Ballroom and Showplace 3 Theater were targeted by thieves. Four vehicles at the bowling center, and one each at the theater and Silver Wings were broken into.

Thieves took CD players, MP3 players, change, radios, jewelry and other items. The value of the items stolen was $2,745, while the vehicles sustained a total of $850 in damage to windows and dashboards.

"A witness saw a red, singlecab Chevrolet pickup in the parking lot," said El Campo Police Officer Cindy Howell, who also is coordinator for the West Wharton County Crime Stoppers organization.

"It was in the area of the burglarized vehicles at EC Bowling Center."

West Wharton County Crime Stoppers and the El Campo Police Department's "Most Wanted" program will pay a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and grand jury indictment of those involved in these crimes.

Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain completely anonymous. Anyone with information about any crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 543-8477.

"Remember: Informants do not have to give their name: They're given a code number," Howell said.. "We don't use Caller I.D. and our phone is not tape-recorded."