Suspect Caught in the Act Stealing RV in Multi-County Auto Theft Investigation

On August 1, 2025, the Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force (ACTF), with assistance from the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit (MCU), apprehended 31-year-old Derrick Patterson while he was actively stealing a 2022 Astoria Recreation Vehicle in Harris County, Texas.

The arrest was part of an ongoing multi-county investigation stemming from several thefts in Galveston County. Patterson was stopped in the 10000 block of Red Orchid Drive in Houston, where officers discovered he was in possession of the stolen RV. During the stop, investigators also recovered a stolen Can-Am side-by-side and a utility trailer.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office approved charges of Theft of Property valued between $30,000 and $150,000. Patterson was booked into the Harris County Jail and awaits a bond hearing.

The Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional operation funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) and includes law enforcement agencies from Galveston and Brazoria counties. The task force focuses on criminal investigations, prevention efforts, and analytical support across the region.