In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl’s impact in Houston, the region is facing not only widespread damage and prolonged power outages but also a surge in crime, including burglaries, violent threats against utility workers, and murders.

Since Beryl made landfall on July 8, the Harris County District Clerk’s Office has recorded nearly 50 burglary charges, according to a report from The Texan.

Under Texas law, burglary during a disaster carries enhanced penalties, potentially escalating charges to a third-degree felony with up to 10 years in prison.

“Anyone who commits these types of offenses during a declared disaster and tries to take advantage of businesses that are closed with no power is about as low as you can get,” Andy Kahan of Crime Stoppers of Houston told The Texan.

“I sincerely hope that they throw the book at them, and they get sent to prison and they don’t breathe free air for quite some time,” he added.

Meanwhile, the community is mourning the loss of Harris County Sheriff Deputy Fernando Esqueda, who was tragically killed in an ambush last week. The incident occurred as Esqueda and fellow officers responded to a disturbance at an east-side Houston pizzeria.

Suspect Ronnie Palmer, 44, was allegedly enraged over a food dispute and attacked an employee before fatally shooting Deputy Esqueda in what investigators described as a targeted assault.

Palmer faces charges of capital murder, with a second suspect, Dremone Francis, also being charged in connection with the crime, according to court documents.

In response to escalating crime and ongoing power challenges, Houston authorities have deployed additional law enforcement resources.

Interim Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite and Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Department of Emergency Management announced the deployment of 100 officers from various agencies across the state to assist with patrols and maintain safety, per The Texan.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Gov. Greg Abbott condemned acts of aggression toward linemen working to restore power, emphasizing these workers’ crucial role in the city’s recovery efforts.

During the weekend, law enforcement detained an individual for pointing a firearm at a CenterPoint Energy crew. This crew represents a growing portion of the over 10,000 contractors enlisted to reinstate power who are vulnerable to threats and physical assaults from residents, according to Fox 26 News.

As of July 16, CenterPoint Energy restored power to over 2 million customers. Cooling centers and community support initiatives, including those led by local philanthropist Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, have provided relief and shelter to thousands affected by the storm’s aftermath.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, during a press briefing at NRG Arena in Houston on July 15, Abbott criticized CenterPoint for failing to restore power promptly, stating that nearly 200,000 Houston residents remained without electricity over a week after Beryl hit Texas.

“CenterPoint has completely dropped the ball with regard to getting power back on,” Abbott said during the briefing.

“An issue that we see in the ongoing response to Hurricane Beryl are life-based issues, not because of the hurricane itself, but because of the lack of power supply. The failure of power companies to provide power to their customers is unacceptable,” the governor added.