On August 1, 2025, 31-year-old Derrick Patterson was arrested in Harris County, Texas, as part of a multi-county auto theft investigation led by the Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force (ACTF). Patterson was caught in the act of stealing a 2022 Astoria Recreation Vehicle (RV), marking the culmination of an ongoing investigation into multiple thefts in Galveston County.
The arrest took place in the 10000 block of Red Orchid Drive in Houston, where officers discovered Patterson in possession of the stolen RV. In addition to the RV, investigators recovered a stolen Can-Am side-by-side and a utility trailer during the stop.
Patterson was charged with Theft of Property valued between $30,000 and $150,000. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Harris County Jail and is awaiting a bond hearing.
The Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force, which includes law enforcement agencies from Galveston and Brazoria counties, is a multi-jurisdictional operation funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA).
The task force is dedicated to investigating auto theft crimes, preventing future incidents, and providing regional support through data analysis and law enforcement coordination.
