SAN ANTONIO – People who live in a Southwest Side neighborhood are being credited with informing police and helping them search for a burglar.
San Antonio police Lt. Devon Lambert said officers responded to a call around 8 a.m. Monday from a neighbor in an area near Five Palms and Old Pearsall Road.
The neighbor reported seeing someone stealing items from other homes.
"(She) said that that burglar was in the alley right around the corner from her," Lambert said. (The officer) proceeded over there (and) saw an individual pushing a lawn mower."
The burglar also saw the officer and began running away. Police said the burglar managed to escape briefly.
The burglar dropped several items while running, including some taken from the bed of Matt Arredondo's pickup.
"My wife woke me up this morning. I was out cold. She came banging and said police were out and my lawn equipment was in my alley," Arredondo said. "We work hard for our belongings. To have someone just come and snatch them from us, it's not right."
Police recovered everything that was stolen from Arredondo and at least one other person.
With help from a helicopter, canine patrols and more neighbors, officers continued on the trail of the burglar.
"Citizens telling us a person matching the description fled in this direction, it led us to this home," Lambert said.
In a backyard tent behind a home a few streets away, officers found a man who they said matched the description of the burglar.
They weren't sure right away if he was the burglar. Police plan to have a witness take a look at him for identification purposes.
Even if it turns out police don't have the right man in custody, Arredondo said he's glad to have his stolen property back.
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