It has been over two months since our quick hour stop at the original Carrabba's Italian Grill in Houston, Texas resulted in us getting robbed. We gathered valuable information to aid the Houston police. They refuse to engage in the robbery case to locate the criminals. The Carrabba's general manager stated to me a day after the robbery that we will cooperate to retrieve your personal belongings.
Two months later, the general manager now believes our personal possessions and intellectual property are long gone. We knew our personal belongings and intellectual property were unrecoverable the moment Carrabba's security indicated Carrabba's does not hire them on for 3-hours each day in the afternoon.
We are so lucky to have dined in a restaurant for the first time during the daytime. We never visited Houston in the past, previously avoiding the city 7 years ago while making the same exact road trip. According to Carrabba's and their security officer, we are the first to have gotten robbed in their new parking structure.
The Houston Police have refused to engage in the grand theft. They have access to the video surveillance. It seemed the security officer taking the police report that April 16, 2012 afternoon would review the video surveillance along with Carrabba's Direct of Operation. Two months later, the Houston police department and the Original Caraabba's failed miserable.
Both of these outfits lack professionalism and empathy. They overuse "we're sorry this happened to you" and "people get robbed on every street corner in America" too much instead of doing something to pursue these criminals who ruined us. We have nothing left. Many valuable possessions, important documents, and intellectual property are gone.
Houston police ignored following-up with a lead. We informed them to take simple steps to acquire sensitive information from another entity. Over the past few months, we experienced nothing but hardship due to this robbery. Houston police and Carrabba's are irresponsible. Carrabba's 3-hour security-less window increased the risk.
Today, we watched Florida mall security patrol the parking lot. Many cars have luggage and personal belongings inside their vehicle. A few of these vehicles were parked more than 2-hours with no incident.I refuse to believe that anyone can get robbed. The truth is that we have never gotten robbed in the most dangerous places. Carrabba's and the Houston police deserve no respect in this robbery case.
In my opinion, Carrabba's needs to release the surveillance video. If the restaurant and police continue to disregard the evidence, they are allowing criminals to get away with a serious crime. Don't fall for poor treatment. We recommend avoiding Houston, Texas. It only takes 1-hour to ruin your life.
At 3115 Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas, robbers broke out our drive window in broad daylight. They took luggage and bags with many of our valuables. We were relocating to Florida. This robbery is our reward for dining in Carrabba's Italian Grill for the first time. Whereas Carrabba staff members tried to help the best they could that night, the truth is their policies increased the risk. In result, we got robbed.
How would travelers react to have their vehicle robbed while they dine inside a restaurant with security taking an extended 3-hour break? There is no excuse to this event. We are not talking about a minor incident. The Florida mall example, the hotels we stayed at while traveling across the country, and malls we shopped at had good security. Most;y all places we visited in the past 20 years have good security.
We're not claiming Carrabba's Italian Grill as an entity is dangerous to visit. We're suggesting that this original Carrabba's location at 3115 Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas is the location we got robbed on a Monday afternoon while their security is on an extended 3-hour break daily. In our opinion, the restaurant wants to save money with keeping a 3-hour window open and wants to make money with converting the traditional parking lot into valet parking.
Carrabba's points the blame at the American crime rate rather than accept their mistake. We got robbed there. We didn't get robbed at Olive Garden, Chevy's and any other restaurant. No security was around. The unprofessional robbers broke out the window. Glass projected in the back seat, on the floor, in the middle console and pretty all through the interior. I had to pay $250 to repair the window out of my own pocket.
Does it makes any sense for robbers to break out a window, which we might add is probably extremely loud? Moreover, the surveillance video is recording them robbing the car. To make matters worse, we never hear from Carrabba's ever again after we discussed the event with them. According to the restaurant, the Houston police don't deal with car theft and robberies; they tell you to call the police station to make a report instead.
What kind of police depart is Houston, Texas operating? They get a perfect lead. All they have to do is request the information by letterhead. However, their lack of professionalism in requesting information from another entity and failing to reviewing video surveillance tape prove this city is condoning crime. Is this evidence on the tape that connects the criminals to another?
In San Jose, a past identity theft case resulted in the San Clara and San Jose police apprehending the thief. It only took two weeks to find this person based on video surveillance. In this Houston case, the restaurant has a video tape in this possession with the robbers. Who knows if their vehicle and license plate number are in the video surveillance? If that video tape goes missing, then it's obvious the intent is to disclose the truth.
It is frustrating to think that Carrabba's Italian Grill's corporate office is ignoring this matter. Their restaurant is trying to sweep the April 16, 2012 robbery under their rug. Where is the respect? Sorry doesn't cut it. Are they sorry we drove across five states, unable to sleep, park for more than a few minutes, our safety at stake, rain and fog pouring in the car, and that we were without our possessions - including clothes? Forget sorry.
Carrabba's and their security claim this is the first time anyone has gotten robbed in their new structure. They allowed us to leave that afternoon, knowing we had to drive home to Central Florida. What kind of business treats people this way? Their actions before and after the robbery demonstrate a lack of compassion. They keep recycling the American crime rate as an excuse to not take accountability for the robbery.
As a person who has worked as a server in popular restaurants while attending college, I have never seen or heard of any event such as our experience. Carrabba's is ignoring the crime. In my opinion, the Houston police are condoning crime with refusing to engage into the matter. They have a hard time locating case numbers rather than investigate a serious crime.
A U.S. Passport, Social Security card, tax forms for three people, $10,000 worth of personal possessions, and $50-100K of intellectual property on the computer and in a original book are missing. This is the first time I've experienced adverse treatment connected to a restaurant and the police station.
All travelers should be very careful driving through Houston, Texas. According to the restaurant, security and the Houston Police department, robbers are hitting up rich areas. If you so happen to get robbed, don't expect anyone to show compassion for your loss. Carrabba's insurance company Town & Country shift blame, avoid responsibility and refuse to accept claims.
Never go into Houston, Texas unless you have personal property insurance. This city is ranked as one of the most high crime cities in America. Whereas San Antonio ranks high in crime, the city actually provides adequate security to keep patrons safe. In Houston, the original Carrabba's, Houston police, restaurant security, and Town & Country insurance company turn away from a criminal incident (based on actual evidence, their statements made on the phone, in-person, and through suggesting crime is common across America). One Houston police officer stated that a 5-year-old can break into a car.
We can see a 5-year-old stealing possessions weighing twice his weight. One suitcase weighed 50 pounds. The car windows are tinted. It is tough to unload the suitcases and bags. Furthermore, anyone can break a window in broad daylight while filmed on camera robbing private property. Better yet, the restaurant and police refuse to deal with the crime. We suppose a 5-year-old can rob a car under these circumstances.
If you're traveling into Houston, keep sensitive documents with you. The security officer interrogated me as if I were a criminal. He assigned a name and a Houston address to me. I told him I have no idea what he is taking about. He continued to demand information to prove ownership of the vehicle. However, the robbers helped themselves to the registration and car insurance documents as well.
Maybe the security officer who works for Carrabba's and the Houston police department is frustrated he has to deal with the police report under his watch. He claimed the area is very rich, and that nothing like this robbery has happened prior to our loss. We have no idea why this officer requested our social security numbers, which we provided at the time but should have withheld. Everything in this robbery is shady.
Our California plates probably lured the robbers. Inadequate security gave the robbers enough time to do as they please with nobody standing in their way to stop them. The irresponsible original Carrabba's restaurant and the Houston police ignoring the crime. We called many times to provide information. Not one person from Carrabba's and or the Houston police returned any calls.
After 5 weeks of being proactive, I decided to temporarily disconnect from the Houston police and Carrabba's. This website will remain active to inform the traveling popular to increase awareness. We would hate to see anyone suffer like us. Going on 9 weeks, nobody from Houston cares. It is obvious the Houston police have no interest in fighting crime. The Carrabba's Italian Grill restaurant blames the American crime rate on our loss. For the most part, apprehending robbers responsible in this major theft case could resolve future crimes.
Based on our Houston travel experience, avoid dining at restaurants in any rich Houston areas. Keep your eyes open, stay alerts on your surroundings while in fast food drive-thrus and at gas stations. We never made any stops to increase our risk. It was our bad luck we continued on course to visit a restaurant with inadequate security. In the process, we got robbed. If the restaurant took proper measures, we would still own our personal belongings and probably have jobs.
Unfortunately, we will continue to experience major hardship due to this robbery. Carrabba's will ignore the April 16, 2012 case. If Carrabba's spends thousands a week on top security, then they are doing a poor job. If any group of criminals can shatter a window in broad daylight while high-end surveillance film is rolling and security is on an extended 3-hour break, this location is obvious unsafe.
We hear constant claims that Houston police are overly busy with major cases that theft and robberies are handled on the phone. This is irresponsible. Don't expect police to keep you safe. We highly doubt our valuable possessions will be recovered. If a miracle happens, we will renew our faith in the Houston police. Until that time arrives, Carrabba's and the Houston police get poor scores for their response to a major theft.
