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Liberty County residents urge stronger enforcement after string of break-ins
Summary
Two residents described recent break-ins, property loss and emotional harm and asked the commissioners for increased patrols, a dedicated task force and better follow-up on evidence, saying repeat offenders are not being arrested despite video and other leads.
Two residents appealed to the Liberty County Commissioners Court to step up law-enforcement responses after repeated burglaries in unincorporated neighborhoods.
Heather Kelly told the court she represents neighbors in Dayton, Woodland Hills and surrounding communities and described multiple incidents in which repeat offenders — in some cases captured on video — allegedly struck the same homes again and again. “We share the same frustrations: either no one responds to investigate the crimes against us or when someone does meaningful steps like fingerprinting are not taken,” Kelly said, and asked the court for “increased patrol support, a dedicated task force to address the rising theft and drug activity, and more resources for our sheriff’s department.”
Another speaker, Stephanie Kelly, said thieves entered her property in daylight, stole family photos and other items and left her and her family feeling unsafe. She said missing evidence and an absence of investigator follow-up had prolonged her distress. “No one should have to live in fear of being watched, violated, or having this attention and social anxiety,” she said.
The comments came during the public-comment portion of the court’s regular October meeting, where the court broadly acknowledged the concerns and then moved on to the scheduled agenda. Commissioners did not make a formal, immediate commitment to a particular staffing increase or task force during the meeting.
Why it matters: Residents described not just property loss but ongoing emotional and medical consequences and urged the court to prioritize enforcement and investigative follow-up. Any changes in patrol staffing or the creation of a task force would affect sheriff’s-office budgets and operations.
What’s next: The court took the comments under advisement; no formal directive, budget amendment or vote addressing staffing for these neighborhoods was recorded in the meeting minutes.
