HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — An 18-year-old has been arrested and charged with felony theft after investigators allege he broke into multiple Houston-area jewelry stores and walked out with over a half million dollars in merchandise.
The suspect, Marcelo Hernandez, is also a member of the United States Marine Corps, according to court records and the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office.
“He completed boot camp in 2023,” Precinct 4 Capt. Jonathan Zitzmann said. “With that job, there’s an expectation that you are held to a higher standard and certainly not in the business of conducting really egregious crimes.”
In surveillance images, the constable's office said the accused thief can be seen smashing the window at a Houston-area David Yurman store this past October. At that location, he stole over 200 pieces of jewelry valued at more than $380,000.
The suspect was also captured on surveillance video earlier this month at Helzberg Diamonds at the Houston Premium Outlet Mall in Cypress. He allegedly stole jewelry valued at more than $170,000 at that location.
“He was very brazen and he would use a sledgehammer and other large tools to force his way into the business when that business itself was closed and other surrounding businesses were closed,” said Zitzmann.
When the Precinct 4 deputies arrested Hernandez on Thursday, they found over $500,00 worth of jewelry, $11,000 in cash and multiple handguns inside his car.
Capt. Zitzmann tells KHOU 11 that Hernandez may be tied to more crimes in the Cypress area.
“At the rate he committed these crimes, certainly nothing’s off the table,” Zitzmann said. “It’s unfortunate to see someone so young doing this, but no matter who you are, if you do the crime you have to face the consequences."
On Friday, Hernandez’s bond was set at $500,000 – he remains in the Harris County Jail.
Zitzmann encourages local business owners to reach out to the constable’s office if they recently experienced a burglary similar in fashion to Hernandez’s alleged heists.