A trio of suspects dubbed the Three Stooges by Beaumont police are being sought in connection with an armed robbery of a fast-food restaurant on New Year’s Eve.
“Larry,” “Curly,” and “Moe” were caught on camera entering a Popeyes restaurant with all the grace of a bull inside a china shop at around 9 p.m. on December 31. The three masked men brandishing handguns put on a brief slip-and-slide show before confronting employees and stealing an undisclosed amount of cash.
The Beaumont Police Department pointed out that the three suspects were wearing “distinctive clothing” and were seen in a blue vehicle. Despite the near three-bandit pile-up, no one appeared to be injured during the incident.
Anyone with information who can help identify these men is asked to call the Beaumont Police Department at 409-832-1234 or Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS (8477).
In Dallas, there have already been 92 robberies reported as of January 18, according to the City’s crime analytics dashboard. Last year, the Dallas Police Department handled 2,322 cases. Meanwhile, motor vehicle theft soared by 40.5% year over year, clocking 18,839 in 2023 and becoming the most prevalent crime in the city. Assaults and murders have also been rather frequent, with black and Hispanic individuals bearing the brunt last year, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Although motor vehicle theft crime notorious for being difficult to solve, DPD has been laboring under the added burden of being short-staffed. It has roughly 3,000 officers in its ranks despite a City report citing the need for roughly 4,000. Moreover, this year, DPD will be receiving far fewer funds than other cities beset with crime, such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The City of Dallas budgeted $654 million for police operations for fiscal year 2024.
Meanwhile, comparative studies on Downtown Dallas and Fort Worth’s downtown areas show a persistent disparity in crime deterrence. The latter, patrolled by a specialized neighborhood police unit and private security guards, logs around seven times less crime than the former.
