May 26, 2025
Memorial Day Sale! 6 Months for 99¢Our Best Offer. One Week Only. Sale Ends May 26! Cancel Anytime. |
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 | Lauren Mitchell, Digital Production Editor |
Photo by: Elizabeth Conley (Staff Photographer)
The oil rustlers of West Texas: Thefts surge in the Permian Basin
In March, a sheriff's deputy drove out to an oil field west of Odessa after the owner called in to report two of his storage tanks were short more than 400 barrels of crude, worth about $31,000.
Oil theft has been part of doing business in West Texas for as long as people have been drilling, but over the past two years there's been a surge in activity, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. That has attracted interest from politicians in Texas and Washington, who are weighing whether to increase funding to law enforcement and strengthen criminal penalties.
It's not clear what's driving the up-tick, but there's suspicion it's part of an international enterprise operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. A spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, which is part of a FBI task force investigating the thefts, said their inquiries pointed to the involvement of criminal organizations, including drug cartels from Mexico.
Law enforcement officials say the operations in Texas are getting more advanced, using drones and other technology to surveil oil operations, tracking the movement of workers and supply trucks in and out, as well as looking out for expensive equipment to steal along with the oil.
Read more of James Osborne's story here.
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📰 Top Stories
- MEMORIAL DAY: Here's what's open and closed today in observance of the holiday.
- LIFEGUARDS NEEDED: To fully staff the pools, the Houston's Parks and Recreation Department has launched an aggressive lifeguard recruitment campaign. One strategy: lowering the minimum age for lifeguards to 15 from 16, following the lead of cities like Austin and Dallas.
- RETIREMENT HEAVEN? Two cities in Fort Bend County landed in the WorldAtlas' "12 Best Small Towns in Texas for Retirement."
- MUSIC IN THE CITY: While it may seem that live music showcases have been replaced by karaoke machines, musicians in need of places to perform can still find those spaces at open mic nights at the city's various venues.
⏪ In Case You Missed It
- 5 YEARS LATER: Here's what Houston looked like five years ago, as tens of thousands of protesters marched downtown to demand justice and police reforms. Click here to read our complete coverage of the anniversary of George Floyd's death.
- OH BABY! Liam was the most popular baby name in Texas for the seventh year in a row and Olivia reclaimed the top spot after being surpassed by Emma in 2023.
- PARTY CENTRAL: A famous Houston mansion where George Clooney, former President Barack Obama and Duran Duran once partied has sold. See how it stacks up against the city's most expensive homes sold in April.
- TAKE A LOOK: Since 2020, members of the Bandidos stalked and assaulted rivals across the region, leaving bodies on the ground, wounded men in hospitals and one building gutted by flames, according to the FBI. Explore the map of the allegations.
📅 Events at the Chronicle
Photo by: Austin American-Statesman And Houston Chronicle Staff
EVENT: School vouchers, the future of education in Texas and more
Houston Chronicle readers are invited to a live Zoom event with Austin Bureau reporter Edward McKinley on the future of Texas education.
🏊 One More Thing
With temperatures continuing to climb this season it's the perfect time to take a dip at one of Houston's public pools.
Eight pools across the city are ready to help you beat the heat, with plans to expand schedules after the school year ends.
Stay cool, stay safe, and I'll catch you next time!
Puzzle of the Day: Cross|word
📅 C's the Day — By halle — Edited by Amie Walker — Edited for Puzzmo by brooke
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