Montgomery County Deputies Arrest Houston Pair After $3,000 in Stolen Merchandise Recovered in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- On October 1, 2026, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office located known retail theft suspects leaving the Ross store on Lake Woodlands Drive in The Woodlands Township. Deputies observed the suspects enter a vehicle and drive away from the location, and subsequently initiated a traffic stop in the 26000 block of Interstate 45 South near Nursery Road. The occupants of the vehicle were identified as 50-year-old Jose Martinez and 39-year-old Jackelin Mendez, both residents of Houston.

A search of the vehicle yielded a large amount of stolen merchandise along with specialized instruments used to remove anti-theft security devices. The total value of the recovered stolen merchandise exceeded $3,000.00, and the property will be returned to the retailer.

Martinez and Mendez were arrested and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. Both individuals were charged with Possession of a Criminal Instrument to Commit Retail Theft, and both face potential additional charges of Organized Retail Theft. Additionally, Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds have been placed on both suspects.

Martinez and Mendez are suspects in multiple retail thefts across other jurisdictions, and additional out-of-county charges are expected. The investigation remains ongoing