A man from Houston, Texas has been arrested in connection with a major burglary at a Sam’s Club store in Wichita Falls, where over $30,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. Police say the suspect was caught with stolen goods shortly after the crime took place.
Suspect Arrested and Booked into Jail
The suspect, Xavier Ebron Bowie, was taken into custody on Friday, March 21, 2025, and booked into the Wichita County Jail. He faces charges of:
- Theft of property valued over $30,000 but under $150,000
- Burglary of a building
Bowie remains in custody with total bonds set at $150,000, according to jail records.
How the Burglary Happened
According to an affidavit from the Wichita Falls Police Department, officers were called to the Sam’s Club on Kell Boulevard shortly after 3:00 a.m. on February 13 in response to a reported burglary.
Police discovered a side window in the automotive section on the east side of the store had been broken open, allowing the suspects to enter. Inside, they found shattered glass around the jewelry display area, along with a visible shoeprint left in the broken glass.
What Surveillance Footage Showed
Store security footage showed a silver Chevrolet Malibu with a covered licence plate arriving at the store. Two men dressed in black and wearing blue gloves exited the vehicle.
One of the suspects was wearing red tennis shoes, while the other had grey shoes. One suspect used a sledgehammer to break open a jewelry display case. The two then took a large amount of jewelry, placed it in a bag, and fled the scene.
Store officials later confirmed that the stolen jewelry was valued at more than $30,000, calling it a “significant amount.”
GPS Tracker Helps Police Catch Suspect
In a twist, one of the stolen items had a GPS tracking device attached. Police were alerted to the signal, which showed the tracker moving along U.S. Highway 87, near the border of Wichita and Clay Counties, heading south.
At around 4 a.m., Clay County deputies spotted a silver Chevrolet Malibu on U.S. 287 and initiated a traffic stop, after noting the vehicle had unconfirmed insurance.
Inside the car, officers identified the passenger as Xavier Bowie. When they looked inside, they saw jewelry with Sam’s Club price tags still attached on the floor of the front passenger seat.
Stolen Items Recovered
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found:
- A large black trash bag filled with stolen jewelry
- A second bag containing jewelry display stands
- A black sledgehammer
- A backpack with shoes matching the print found at the crime scene
Second Suspect Still at Large
As of now, police say the second suspect involved in the burglary has not yet been arrested. Investigations are ongoing to identify and locate the second individual.