Houston’s Rapid Urbanization and Its Impact on Property Crimes

Could You Be Charged With a Property Crime in the Houston Area?

Property crimes, the crimes committed against someone’s property or possessions, are far more common than crimes against persons. If you are charged with a property crime in or near the Houston metro area, you must be defended by a Houston property crimes lawyer.

The most commonly reported property crimes in Houston include burglary, theft, robbery, trespassing, criminal mischief, and fraud. The State of Texas aggressively prosecutes property crime cases, so a defendant must be represented by a skilled and experienced defense attorney.

Houston has the highest property crime rate of any major city in Texas. In 2022, 38.1 property crimes were reported for every 1,000 people who reside in Houston. The city’s recent rapid urbanization is frequently cited as one of the key reasons for Houston’s high property crime rate.

How Rapidly Has Houston Grown?

The “urban footprint” of the Houston metro area grew substantially between 1997 and 2017. The equivalent of 186,873 football fields of impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, were added in the Houston area during those decades.

That is an area larger than the entire land area of New York City. But the Houston metro area was already huge in 1997, and the two decades of growth that followed only increased its size by 38 percent.

In a survey conducted in 2023 by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, 83 percent of respondents said crime should be a top priority for the city, and 45 percent said home and auto burglaries negatively impact their neighborhood’s quality of life.

How Does Urbanization Make Property Crimes More Likely?

Growing urban areas like Houston promise a high quality of life. Houston draws vast numbers of people with its abundant economic opportunities and cultural diversity. As population density increases, cities like Houston become increasingly susceptible to crimes like theft and vandalism.

Expanding urban areas also offer more high-value crime targets: more businesses, more automobiles, and more luxury homes. These lucrative targets are quite tempting to the criminals who commit property crimes.

The vastness and anonymity offered by cities like Houston provide cover for criminals. As the area grows, police agencies have responded by aggressively enforcing laws against property crimes. The result is that innocent people are sometimes arrested for crimes they did not commit.

How Do Texas Courts Handle Property Crimes?

A conviction for a property crime may have severe consequences for your future. If you are charged with a property crime in the Houston area, you must be represented and advised by a Houston property crimes attorney, and you must contact that attorney immediately.

The specific penalties for any particular property crime conviction in the State of Texas will depend on the details and nature of the offense. Listed here are some of the penalties that a conviction for a property crime may entail:

1. Fines: Property crime convictions almost always entail considerable financial ramifications. In some cases, a convicted offender could be fined thousands of dollars.

2. Probation: A Texas court may impose probation rather than sentencing a convicted offender to jail or prison. Probation requires regular meetings with a probation officer and adherence to a number of strict terms and conditions.

3. Restitution: If you are convicted of a crime that involves theft or property damage, the court may order you to compensate the victim for the stolen or damaged property.

4. Jail or prison: Depending on the severity and the details of the crime, an offender could be sentenced to a few days in jail or a number of years in prison.

5. Criminal record: A conviction creates a criminal record that could make it difficult for you to find employment or housing or qualify for a loan. If you’re convicted of a felony, you’ll lose – for at least five years – the right to own or possess a firearm in this state.

What’s Your Recourse if You Are Charged With a Property Crime?

If police in the Houston area place you under arrest for a property crime, be cooperative and polite, but insist on your right to counsel and your right to remain silent. You can say something such as, “I prefer to answer no questions until my attorney is here.” Then say no more.

You should be represented and advised by an experienced Houston property crimes lawyer. Your lawyer will probably seek to have the charge dropped or the case dismissed. If neither option is possible, your lawyer may negotiate for an acceptable plea deal.

In the typical plea bargain, a defendant pleads guilty to a reduced charge and receives reduced or alternative sentencing. However, if you are not guilty of the property crime you have been charged with, you may insist on your right to a trial by jury.

How Will a Property Crimes Lawyer Help You?

When a Houston property crimes attorney represents you, that attorney will scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence, speak with witnesses, protect your rights, and bring your property crimes case to its best possible outcome. Your attorney may offer one of these defenses on your behalf:

1. You have an alibi which proves you were not present at the time and place of the crime.

2. Another person committed the crime and you’ve been misidentified.

3. No crime happened and the allegation against you has been fabricated.

4. You believed you had the owner’s consent or believed the property involved was yours.

5. If you are accused of a property crime in the Houston metro area, contact Drehner Law as quickly as possible.

Why Should You Choose Drehner Law?

For years, Houston criminal defense attorney Shannon Drehner was a chief felony prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. She knows how prosecutors work, knows criminal law from both sides of the courtroom, and brings that experience to every case and client.

If you are charged with a property crime, you are entitled to justice. Attorney Shannon Drehner will fight effectively and aggressively for the justice you need. Call Drehner Law at 832-626-0063 to learn more about your rights or schedule a no-cost, no-obligation first legal consultation.