Homeowner Demands Answers After Landscaping Stones Vanish

UPDATE: A Houston woman is urgently seeking answers after her landscaping stones mysteriously vanished from her property, raising safety concerns for her family. Maria Trevino contacted ABC13 after the city’s 3-1-1 service provided no clarity on the removal of her stones, which she had strategically placed to protect her yard from errant drivers.

On September 18, 2023, Trevino returned home to discover that the large stones she had set up a year and a half ago were missing. “Where are the rocks? Where are the stones?” she exclaimed as she reviewed her surveillance footage. The video shows her landscaping stones in place at 10:03 AM and disappearing just three minutes later, replaced by a large piece of machinery loading something heavy into a truck.

Trevino had placed these stones at the corner of her property to prevent cars from driving into her yard, a problem she had faced for years. “Ever since I had put them in that design, I never had that problem again,” she said. Now, with the stones gone, she fears for her safety as the weekends approach, traditionally a time when vehicles frequently veer off course.

The city’s yard waste pickup was scheduled for her property on September 16, leading Trevino to believe that the solid waste team mistakenly removed her stones during a late collection. “The stones weren’t trash; they were there for a reason,” she emphasized, expressing dismay at the lack of communication from city officials.

After reaching out to 3-1-1 on the same day the stones went missing, Trevino has followed up multiple times—on September 26 and again on October 23—but has received only report numbers without any substantive follow-up. “I would like for them to bring me some stones to put there to replenish the ones that were taken,” she stated, highlighting her urgent need for safety measures.

Eyewitness News has reached out to the 3-1-1 service to address Trevino’s concerns and explore possible solutions. They also advised her to file a claim with the city, although previous reports indicate that only 17% of such claims were paid out between 2022 and 2024.

As Trevino awaits a response, she remains anxious. “Here comes the weekend, and I dread it every weekend that passes,” she lamented. The city’s failure to address her concerns not only puts her safety at risk but also raises questions about the transparency and responsiveness of public services.

This developing story highlights the urgent need for municipal accountability in Houston, as residents like Trevino seek timely resolutions for their concerns. For more updates on this case, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X, and Instagram.