Victims hope surveillance photos lead to arrests in South Side car burglary spree

Same neighborhood targeted twice in 2 weeks

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – People whose cars were burglarized early Friday morning are hoping surveillance photos captured by a neighbor’s camera might lead to some arrests.

Some of the black-and-white photos show a man with a mustache and beard and wearing a hoodie who appears to be tugging on the door handle of a parked car.

Another photo caught the image of a compact car that the victims believe was used by the suspected crooks to get away.

Multiple car break-ins reported in neighborhood on South Side, police say

“They hit the whole neighborhood, basically,” said Erineo Espinoza, one of the victims.

In all, San Antonio police had begun receiving the first of about a dozen calls just after daylight Friday from people on three different streets—Stetson View, Stetson Run and Stetson Park.

A South Side resident took photos of a man accused of burglarizing several vehicles in the South Side neighborhoods of Stetson View, Stetson Run and Stetson Park. Courtesy: Gabriel Garza (KSAT)

They said about the same number of vehicles was targeted in that same neighborhood just last week.

“They looked around. I mean, they shuffled everything out and they left, I guess because there's nothing in here to take,” said Mary Stein-Cruz.

She fared better than some of her neighbors who lost wallets, stereo equipment, clothing and keys.

Still, she said, she feels violated.

“I think it's important for us to be safe and feel safe in our homes,” she said.

Stein-Cruz admitted that her husband accidentally left the doors to her SUV unlocked.

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Police say that was the case in almost all of the burglaries.

Espinoza said he also left the doors open on his 2019 Toyota Tacoma.

The thieves took the entire truck.

“$47,000,” he said, counting up his loss. “My wallet was there too, so I have to call all my credit (car companies), and I don't have a driver’s license anymore.”

In spite of everything, Espinoza was able to smile, thankful that he has insurance.

Stein-Cruz, meanwhile, wants to take action.

She says she will start by being more security conscious and locking her doors.

“From now on, definitely. Double check and triple check,” she said.

She said she also hopes that her neighbors as well as police will be more watchful.


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.

Tim has been a photojournalist and video editor at KSAT since 1998. He came to San Antonio from Lubbock, where he worked in TV and earned his bachelor's degree in Electronic Media and Communication from Texas Tech University. Tim has won a handful of awards and has earned a master's in Strategic Communication and Innovation from Tech as well.