{"id":1024042,"date":"2026-08-25T22:56:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1024042\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T22:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T22:56:10","slug":"car-break-ins-plague-northwest-side-neighborhood-data-shows-nearly-1000-offenses-citywide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1024042\/","title":{"rendered":"Car break-ins plague Northwest Side neighborhood; Data shows nearly 1,000 offenses citywide"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 Neighbors on Bent Branch Road on the Northwest Side say someone has been working their way down their street for months \u2014 checking car door handles, rummaging through unlocked vehicles and, in at least one case, driving off with an entire truck.<\/p>\n

At least seven residents said their cars were targeted. Surveillance cameras captured the suspects in the act multiple times. City crime data shows the problem is bigger than just one street.<\/p>\n

Jamey Burnett, who lives on Bent Branch Road, said the pattern has become all too familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been going on, I would say, six, eight months,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cSome kids come through; they rifle all the doors. If you leave it unlocked, they get in and rifle through there, looking for cash. I\u2019d say CDs, but nobody listens to CDs anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnett said he suspects teenagers are behind the break-ins and the activity tends to cycle through the neighborhood every few years. He said he has since added more security cameras pointed directly at his vehicles.<\/p>\n

Truck stolen in broad daylight<\/p>\n

For neighbor Frank Manicola, the situation escalated beyond a break-in. About three weeks ago, his F-250 King Ranch was stolen straight from his driveway \u2014 in the middle of the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree weeks ago, right out of the driveway during the daytime,\u201d Manicola said. \u201cThe guy just came up, ripped the lock off, got the computer and drove off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manicola said he was on a cruise when the theft happened and had to wait nearly a week before he could get home and hand over surveillance footage to the San Antonio Police Department. He described the insurance process that followed as \u201ca nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he believes more police patrols in residential streets could help deter future break-ins.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never see SAPD patrol in the actual streets around the neighborhoods,\u201d Manicola said.<\/p>\n

As for whoever is still checking door handles at night, Manicola had a warning.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s gonna get what\u2019s due to him pretty soon,\u201d he said. \u201cCause somebody\u2019s going to catch him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The numbers tell a bigger story<\/p>\n

A KSAT review of San Antonio\u2019s open crime data shows 53 motor vehicle theft and stolen property offenses were recorded in ZIP code 78250 \u2014 which covers the Bent Branch Road area \u2014 between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2026. The data shows a notable spike in offenses during the summer months.<\/p>\n

Citywide, that number climbs to 999 reported offenses in the same category over the same seven-month period. The Prue service area, which includes this neighborhood, ranked second highest in the city for these types of crimes \u2014 trailing only the West Side.<\/p>\n

Burnett said he has noticed more police presence on the street in recent weeks and hopes it continues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have seen an increase in police activity over the past six weeks,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen more around here, so they are patrolling a little bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to protect your vehicle<\/p>\n

San Antonio police and security experts recommend the following steps to reduce the risk of car break-ins:<\/p>\n