08/31/2026
Out of Jail and Back in Trouble: Suspect Steals Vehicle Minutes After Release
Pearland, TX – On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at approximately 10:17 a.m., Pearland Police Officers responded to a report of a vehicle theft in progress at the Chevron located at 8416 Broadway St. in Pearland, Brazoria County.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the complainant, who reported that his vehicle was stolen from the parking lot while he was airing up his tires. Security footage provided by a Chevron employee showed a white male wearing red shorts and a gray Jordan T-shirt driving away in the stolen vehicle.
A Pearland Police Department Crime Analyst identified the suspect as Helvin Luis Alvarado Pagan, who had recently been released from the Pearland City Jail. Pagan matched the description of the suspect and was wearing the same clothing shown in his booking photograph. Officers determined Pagan had been released from the jail at approximately 9:03 a.m., and the vehicle theft occurred at approximately 10:10 a.m., less than a mile from the jail.
Pearland Officers and Detectives utilized Flock camera technology to assist in locating the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was detected by a Flock camera in the area of Howard Drive and Gulf Freeway in Houston just minutes after the theft.
At approximately 11:20 a.m., Detectives spotted a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle traveling westbound on Howard Drive. The vehicle was observed speeding and running a red light at Belfort Street and the Gulf Freeway. Detectives followed the vehicle but lost sight of it when it turned southbound onto Broadway due to the driver's reckless driving.
While checking nearby apartment complexes, Pearland Officers and Detectives located Pagan at 8405 Broadway St. He was wearing the same clothing he had been wearing when released from the Pearland City Jail and was carrying a clear plastic bag containing his property. Officers took Pagan into custody and recovered the keys to the stolen vehicle.
Pagan was transported to the Pearland City Jail and charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (State Jail Felony) and Theft of a Fi***rm (State Jail Felony).
The stolen vehicle was recovered, and Pagan was taken into custody in less than two hours of the original theft.
This incident is a great example of the teamwork and coordination between Pearland Police Officers, Detectives, Crime Analysts, Dispatch and other personnel who worked together to quickly identify and locate the suspect and recover the stolen vehicle.
