Houston hot spots
Update: Don't want your car broken into? Don't go to the movies & beware of thefajitas (with video)
Marq-E Entertainment Center, 39 offenses
Hampton Inn at 4500 Post Oak Parkway, 30 offenses
Update: The Houston Galleria is falsely listed in HPD's list at 5000 Westheimer. The property at that address, The Centre at Post Oak, is No. 2 with 35 break-ins. The actual Galleria also made the list of 20, but with a much lower 13 break-ins. It seems Nordstrom Rack just doesn't deter thieves like a full-on Nordstrom.
KTRK Ch. 13 ran a report on the Houston parking lots most prone to car break-ins, and some of them might surprise you.
Not so surprising was No. 1, the once-crowded Marq*E center, which contains a 22-screen Edwards movie theater, Cafe Adobe, Dave and Busters and Drink Houston. The huge complex is emptier these days, and has had 39 break-ins since January. The complex, which has been losing tenants for several years now, has plans to redesign — including the addition of more than 200 extra parking spaces.
No. 2 on the list was the massive Galleria parking system. Although you might think parking immediately adjacent to a Nordstrom's would suggest your car is safe for a shopping sojourn, the sheer size of the Galleria parking meant 35 break-ins so far in 2010.
Rounding out the top five are the Hampton Inn on Post Oak Parkway with 30 break-ins, Lupe Tortillas with 24 break-ins and Sam's Boat on Richmond with 22 break-ins.
The ratio of parking spots to break-ins at some of these places should probably tell you something, but you're generally advised to use some common sense.
Don't leave valuables in plain sight, lock your doors and venture for Lupe's fajitas at your own risk.
