Deputy stole birthday card, pricey vacuum from Target, police say

Joseph Becerra, 32, charged with theft of property

SAN ANTONIO – Authorities in Balcones Heights arrested a Bexar County detention deputy Monday night, marking the 21st arrest of a sheriff's deputy since the start of the year.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office identified the deputy as Joseph Becerra, 32. 

Officials with the Balcones Heights Police Department said Becerra was seen selecting a $599.99 Dyson vacuum, removing a spider wrap senor on the product and placing it in his shopping cart.

Police said Becerra then picked out wrapping paper and a birthday card before entering guest services to pay for the wrapping paper, but not the birthday card or the vacuum.

Police said a loss prevention officer approached Becerra after he exited the store without paying for the vacuum and birthday card.

Becerra is charged with theft of property between $100 and $750 and was issued a criminal tresspas warning for the Target at 4522 Fredricksburg Road.

Sheriff Javier Salazar visited with the detention deputy at the magistrate's office and Becerra tendered his resignation, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

He was taken into custody around 6:30 p.m., records show.

The Sheriff's Office said the deputy was assigned to the detention bureau and had been employed with BCSO since February 2017.


About the Authors:

Emmy-award winning reporter Dillon Collier joined KSAT Investigates in September 2016. Dillon's investigative stories air weeknights on the Nightbeat and on the Six O'Clock News. Dillon is a two-time Houston Press Club Journalist of the Year and a Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Reporter of the Year.