Killeen — Micaela Mullins was looking forward to watching football Saturday night. When she walked in the door a few hours earlier, she knew that was not going to happen.
"My front door was open. My sliding glass door was open. They carried out my TV. They stole playstations. The house was trashed," Mullins said.
Mullins immediately got on the area crime watch Facebook page and let people know. She eventually found someone who had found her TV. It was on a surveillance video. A teenager appeared to be walking it down a nearby street.
"They walked down the road behind me, and they continued to walk several more roads," Mullins said. "So many people had seen them carrying this TV."
Mullins believes a family member left the door unlocked. She said she can't believe the TV was taken in the middle of the day, by teenagers, who were watching her house.
Killeen Police Department Burglary Division Sgt. Ricardo Martinez told KCEN Channel 6 this is a common problem.
"These kids are killing us, and I wish there was more we can do, " Sgt. Martinez said. "Kids and grown-ups will go to the door, knock on the door to see if there is a response, and if somebody does answer they will say that they are looking for somebody or want to cut the grass or something. But in actuality they are casing the place to see if anybody is home."
Martinez said the kids will then test the lock and, if the door opens, take items out of the house. It is not against the law for kids to walk down the street, school hours or not, so an officer would normally not have probable cause to question them.
Mullins said she hopes police will be able to find the items, or someone will decide to do the right thing.
"I told the police officer, please bring my items home as a Christmas present. All I want for Christmas is my belongings," Mullins said.
Sgt. Martinez has the following tips for people looking to protect their home:
- Lock your doors and turn on your lights when you leave so it looks like someone is home.
- If you by a TV or other valuable item, don't leave the box outside for trash pickup in a way that is visible. This is especially true during the holidays.
- Document the serial numbers of your property so you can prove it belongs to you if recovered.
- Don't leave valuable property in places were it is easily accessible, or visible from the door.