Thieves use van as a battering ram to knock down wall of Heights Fiesta, steal drugs

Shoppers at the Height-area Fiesta Mart on the 1400 block of Studewood were greeted by a gaping hole in the side of the popular neighborhood grocery store Thursday morning.

The Houston Police Department reported that a group of thieves used a white van to break through the brick wall of the Studewood Pharmacy, which leases space from Fiesta in the northwest portion of the building.

"Officers on duty were dispatched to a burglary in progress Thursday morning at 4:05 a.m.," said HPD spokesperson Kese Smith, noting that police were responding to a call from a witness who spotted three males smashing the vehicle into the building.

Front end manager Gabriel Garcia said he and hi s co-workers got to the store for its daily 7 a.m. opening to find news vans, HPD cars, and a five by five foot hole.

Arriving at the scene, the officers found that the suspects had fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and medication.

"We've asked the pharmacy to do an inventory to let police know what's missing," Smith said. "Our burglary and theft department will do the follow-up."

Front end manager Gabriel Garcia said he and his co-workers got to the store for its daily 7 a.m. opening to find news vans, HPD cars and a five by five foot hole in the brick facade along Studewood.

By around 10:15 a.m. the smashed wall was boarded up and an independent contractor was assessing the damage. Six-foot black tires marks were visible leading straight into the building.

Fiesta director of business development David de Kanter, who handles company media inquiries, would not speak about the break-in, nor would the owners of Studewood Pharmacy.

HPD is requesting that anyone with information contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.