Pair Arrested in Rosenberg for Alleged Theft Spree, Over $1,400 in Stolen Items Recovered

An alert citizen’s report led to the arrest of Jose Ortiz, 50, of Needville, TX, and Veronica Canseco, 49, of Richmond, TX, following a string of alleged thefts in Rosenberg on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Ortiz was seen running out of Academy Sports with stolen items concealed in his pants before entering a vehicle driven by Canseco. The pair then moved to a Kroger location. Officers from the Rosenberg Police Department, including an investigator from the Traffic Unit, quickly responded to the scene.

When Ortiz re-entered the vehicle and attempted to leave, officers conducted a traffic stop. A search of the vehicle uncovered stolen merchandise from Academy, Kroger, and Home Depot valued at over $1,400.

Ortiz, who has more than 20 prior theft-related convictions, was charged with Theft with Two or More Previous Convictions, a state jail felony, and Unlawful Use of a Criminal Instrument, a second-degree felony, for possessing a tool concealed in his clothing to remove security tags.

Canseco was charged with Theft $750 < $2,500, a Class A misdemeanor.

The stolen items were recovered and returned to the businesses. Police encourage citizens to report suspicious activity, emphasizing its impact on community safety.