From April 9 to 11, 2024, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office conducted Operation Home Alone 2024, targeting suspects who used the internet to prey upon children.
Collin County Sheriff’s investigators, along with agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Police Department, and Plano Police Department, made a total of 15 arrests during the operation. Ten individuals were charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor, while five were charged with Soliciting Prostitution of a Person Less than 18 years of age.
In addition to the arrests, investigators seized 13.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine and two firearms.
A large number of electronic devices used by the suspects were also seized and will undergo forensic examination, potentially resulting in additional charges.
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, The Department of Family and Protective Services, and Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) for their support during the operation.
Sheriff Jim Skinner emphasized the importance of parental vigilance regarding children's online activities, stating, “Operation Home Alone 2024 serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of online communications for children. Cell phones, gaming devices, and online computers are hunting grounds for individuals who seek to prey upon children."
