The computer and scale head stolen last week from the Texas County Fair Board’s office building at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds have been recovered.
Fair Board President Darren Ice said employees of Wiley Fence Co. (of West Plains) who were working early Tuesday afternoon on the outfield fence at the old ball field adjacent to the fairgrounds found a tote in a wooded area that contained the items. Wiley workers contacted City of Houston parks Director Drew Jordan, and the gear was ultimately brought to the Houston Police Department.
“I can’t imagine somebody bringing them back,” Ice said. “There’s been a lot of traffic out there this week because of the work on the ball field, so I don’t know if somebody set it out there to come back and get it and just never did, or if someone actually brought it back to us.
“I have my doubts about that, but I don’t really care how it got there, I’m just glad to have it back.”
“We were surprised it was found,” said HPD officer Matt Woodmansee. “The burglary was a week ago; we’re not sure if someone got scared and just never came and got it, or what.”
The equipment – and the specialized software in the computer – were worth about $7,000, Ice said.
“I feel like we saved a lot of money today,” Ice said. “I’d like to thank Wiley, the city workers and the police department. We’re very fortunate.”