UPDATE: A Houston homeowner is urgently seeking answers after discovering that large landscaping stones were mysteriously removed from her property, leaving her concerned for her safety. Maria Trevino reported the incident to ABC13 after multiple attempts to get clarity from 3-1-1 yielded no results.
On September 18, 2023, Trevino returned home to find the stones missing. “Where are the rocks? Where are the stones?” she exclaimed, recalling her frustration upon discovering the loss. The stones, strategically placed about a year and a half ago, had been a vital safety measure to prevent cars from veering into her yard.
“Ever since I had put them in that design, I never had that problem again,” Trevino stated. However, the removal of the stones has rekindled her fears, especially with weekends approaching—a time when she often worries about vehicles encroaching on her property.
Trevino’s surveillance footage captured a large machine at 10:06 a.m. on the day of the incident, moments after the stones vanished. The footage shows the machinery dumping heavy items into a truck, leading her to believe that the City of Houston’s heavy trash team mistakenly picked up her landscaping stones during a scheduled yard waste pickup on September 16.
“The stones weren’t trash; they were there for a reason,” Trevino insisted, emphasizing their importance. Following the alarming incident, she contacted 3-1-1 on the same day and has since followed up multiple times—on September 26 and again on October 23. Yet, she reports receiving only report numbers with no follow-up from officials.
“I would like for them to bring me some stones to put there to replenish the ones that were taken, and that way I can have some kind of protection,” Trevino expressed.
While Trevino has not yet experienced any vehicles encroaching on her property since the stones were removed, she remains anxious. “I dread it every weekend that passes because it usually happens between Thursday and Monday,” she shared.
ABC13 reached out to 3-1-1 to explore solutions for Trevino’s situation. Additionally, she was advised on filing a claim with the city, although past reports indicate that only 17% of claims filed between 2022 and 2024 were paid out, raising concerns about the likelihood of recovery.
The situation sheds light on the challenges homeowners face when dealing with municipal services and the necessity for better communication and accountability. As Trevino awaits a response, she hopes for a swift resolution to restore her peace of mind.
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