DWI Arrest Leads to Recovery of Stolen Jewelry

(June 13, 2024) - According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, on May 2, 2024, at approximately 9:00 AM, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to The Woodlands Mall, located at 1201 Lake Woodlands Dr., following a burglary report. Upon arrival, deputies met with the store owner, who reported that his kiosk had been damaged and several pieces of jewelry were missing. Despite the presence of surveillance video footage, detectives were initially unable to identify the suspect.

Jovani FigueroaPhoto byMontgomery County Police Department

On May 12, 2024, at approximately 3:40 AM, deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office East Precinct Patrol Division conducted a traffic stop, resulting in the arrest of 19-year-old Jovani Figueroa for Driving While Intoxicated. During the stop, deputies discovered a black backpack in the vehicle containing several pieces of jewelry with price tags still attached. Figueroa was also wearing multiple pieces of jewelry with the price tags attached. In total, 73 pieces of jewelry, valued at approximately $15,000, were recovered.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Real Time Crime Center issued a Multi-Agency bulletin regarding the recovered jewelry. Detectives from the South Precinct, familiar with the burglary at The Woodlands Mall, met with the jewelry kiosk owner, who confirmed that the recovered jewelry was stolen from his business. Detectives also positively identified Figueroa as the suspect seen in the surveillance footage. An arrest warrant was issued, leading to Figueroa's arrest on June 12, 2024.