TERRELL COUNTY, TEXAS (NewsNation) — Break-ins are common at homes in the remote, rugged hills along the Rio Grande in Texas, along the paths where people illegally enter the country. Often, there is little that homeowners, many of whom do not live in those houses full time, can do.
But one man was able to document a break-in, and he’s shared the video with NewsNation.
“It is a feeling of … helplessness. There’s nothing you can do,” said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Lon Ratley. He says it’s especially sad because his modest home has very little to offer.
“There’s nothing there … nothing really in my house to steal. Food, I guess, and clothing. But is that worth it?” he told NewsNation.
A rare arrest
The video from Ratley’s surveillance cameras shows the man using a sledgehammer to smash a window, then walking through the house. Ratley received a text alert from his security system and called the U.S. Border Patrol.
Later, we see Border Patrol agents arriving and eventually taking the man into custody. He’s described as a Mexican national in his 20s. Ratley is pressing charges, and the man is in custody in Terrell County, Texas.
Terrill Co. Sheriff Thad Cleveland says apprehending someone like this is a rare occurrence thanks to the remote locations of many homes.
“The hardest thing I can ever do as a sheriff is when somebody calls me and …. I don’t have anybody to send, or I can’t respond right now,” said Cleveland.
“That happens a lot because, at times, we’re overwhelmed by the amount of people crossing the border here.”
Cleveland says many homeowners leave their doors and windows unlocked to avoid damage. Others leave water and canned goods outside to prevent break-ins.
Another problem: Break-ins can go unreported for months because the homeowners are part-time residents.
Ratley’s surveillance cameras and alert system are a rare exception, and this is the first time that someone’s been caught in the act of breaking into a home in Terrell County.
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