On May 2, 2024, at about 9:00 AM, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to The Woodlands Mall, located at 1201 Lake Woodlands Dr., in reference to a burglary call. Upon arrival, Deputies met with the store owner, who stated that his kiosk had been damaged and multiple pieces of jewelry were missing. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrived on scene but were unable to positively identify the suspect with the surveillance video footage available at that time.
On May 12, 2024, at about 3:40 AM, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office East Precinct Patrol Division made a traffic stop, which resulted in the arrest of Jovani Figueroa 19-year-old, for Driving While Intoxicated. Deputies located a black backpack in the vehicle, which contained several pieces of jewelry with the price tags still attached. Jovani was also wearing multiple pieces of jewelry with the price tags attached. A total of 73 pieces of jewelry were recovered, with an estimated value of $15,000.00.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Real Time Crime Center issued a Multi-Agency bulletin regarding the recovered jewelry. Detectives with the South Precinct, being familiar with the Burglary at the Woodlands Mall, met with the victim at the Jewelry kiosk and confirmed that the jewelry was stolen from his business. Detectives were also able to positively identify Jovani as the suspect seen in the surveillance footage. An arrest warrant was issued for Jovani, which resulted in his arrest on June 12, 2024.
This case serves as an excellent example of proactive policing, teamwork, and communication between the different divisions of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Through their dedication and collaboration, they have successfully removed a dangerous criminal from our streets, significantly enhancing the safety of Montgomery County.
