February 13, 2023 - A suspect arrested has been charged in the burglary of a City of Houston library that occurred on January 5 this year.

James Wilson, 51, is charged with burglary of a building in the 482nd State District Court. A booking photo of Wilson is attached to this news release.

HPD Property & Financial Crimes Division Detectives A. Winterbottom reported:

Between October 17 and February 1, ten Houston Public Libraries were burglarized during off-hours. In all cases, the suspect forced entry into the libraries while they were closed and used a sledgehammer to target copiers and cash machines for money. Based on surveillance video a suspect was identified and the cases were linked.

Last Monday (Feb. 6), Hedwig Village police officers responded to a report of a burglary on Corbindale Road. When officers arrived they found a glass door shattered and Wilson inside where a copy machine cash box had been burglarized. Wilson was then arrested and charged.

HPD investigators were notified by Hedwig Village police officers and began to collaborate on the case. HPD investigators spoke with Wilson and noted he matched the suspect in the surveillance photo from a burglary that occurred on January 5 at the Pleasantville Neighborhood Library (1520 Gellhorn Street). The Harris County District Attorney's Office was consulted and Wilson was subsequently charged.