Police catch up with man accused of going on all day crime spree

Joseph Mata, 35, linked to 6 armed robberies, police say

SAN ANTONIO – A man accused of going on an all-day crime spree throughout the city on Monday started his day Tuesday in jail.

San Antonio police arrested Joseph Mata, 35, late Monday night in connection with three aggravated robberies.

Police say they are still working on building cases in connection with the three other robberies.

The crime spree began after 11 a.m. yesterday, with Mata hitting up six victims from the Northeast to the Southeast sides of town, police said.

“His M.O. was that he would show up. He would brandish a firearm and a knife, and then he would rob his people at knifepoint and/or gunpoint,” said Officer Carlos Ortiz, a public information officer for SAPD.

Ortiz said one of the victims was able to supply investigators with a license plate number of the getaway car.

They then used that information to track down Mata at home.

SAPD’s robbery task force, street crimes unit, canine unit and Eagle helicopter all worked together setting up surveillance on the suspect and arresting him as he left home, Ortiz said.

After his arrest, Ortiz said, officers did find a gun and two knives in Mata’s car as well as some of the stolen property.


About the Authors:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.