SAN ANTONIO – It's often thought of as the unbreakable bond -- the relationship between members of a family.
Lately, however, several families have had their bonds put to the test as they've had to choose between their loved ones and the law.
According to Sgt. Javier Salazar with the San Antonio Police Department, relatives regularly blow the whistle, telling detectives all they need to know about crimes or where to find their fugitives family members.
"Many times, the officers themselves are not there to see the offense, so we rely upon on the people that have the most information," said Salazar. "Often, that's the family. It could be a multitude of things that might urge them to come forward. We're just glad that they do."
Angelica Sosa, who recently shared her story with KSAT 12 News, found herself having to make that tough choice when she recognized a man featured in a Crime Stoppers report as the father of her two children.
Police said Nigel Clark-Reagan, 23, robbed a clerk at gunpoint at a Valero Corner store near Loop 1604 and Braun Road in October.
Sosa said when she saw a surveillance photo from that robbery in a news report, she immediately knew she had to turn him in.
"I just knew it was time. It was what I had to do and it was difficult," she said following Clark-Reagan's arrest last week.
Police said thanks to a tip from a relative, they also arrested two suspected car thieves on Monday, Kaleb Adams and Julius Garcia, both 18 years old.
An arrest warrant affidavit stated that Adams' step-father told all to police after finding out about the crime and learning that the stolen car was sitting in the parking lot of their North Side apartment complex.
Ignacio Rodriguez III also may be behind bars as a result of his parents talking to police. They reportedly answered a Crime Stoppers' appeal for information after seeing a picture on TV that they believe was of their 22-year-old son.
Rodriguez is accused of robbing a Chase bank in the 4000 block of San Pedro, police said.
"Many times when someone calls in, you can hear the heartbreak in their voice as they're telling you," Salazar said. "It's quite possibly the hardest thing they've ever had to do. We certainly applaud the efforts of those that recognize the need for that information and put their own personal feelings aside."
While it may be tough for the relatives, it makes the job of solving crimes easier for detectives, Salazar said.
Investigations, he said, only work with information.
In some cases, though, the informants also end up seeing benefits, in the form of reward money offered by Crime Stoppers.
Salazar said it's unclear whether any of the people who shared information in these recent cases received any money.