This bulletin is prepared to alert residents to a surge in vehicle burglaries occurring in the neighborhoods during hours of darkness. This growing crime trend is not just local, but in all the neighborhoods in the surrounding areas in the greater San Antonio / Bexar County metroplex.
Vehicle burglaries are difficult to address only through increased police patrol and investigative
efforts.
It is my opinion progress in abating this problem will only occur when the community and police
work together. Vehicle burglaries occurring in our area have one common denominator: UNLOCKED CARS.
Despite fears of broken windows these criminals only break a window if there is a high value object
left in open view.
Vehicle burglaries are one of the highest forms of larceny but they are the easiest to prevent. To
jump start a community effort we ask everyone to LOCK YOUR VEHICLES and remove your valuables,
especially firearms. To prevent vehicle thefts be sure to remove your keys or fob from the vehicle
when not in use.
AHPD has already made arrests through a heightened patrol effort and investigative analysis leading
to the execution of a search warrant where stolen property was recovered. To assist us we are
asking that residents frequently check their video surveillance and doorbell camera recordings. If
there are recordings of persons checking vehicles, please contact us. Colleen Ferruzzi is our
investigative analyst and a collection point for all video recordings and information regarding
vehicle burglaries. She can be contacted by phone at (210) 822-2230 or by email at
cferruzzi@alamoheightstx.gov. If sending a video recording, please include information regarding
the date and time of day the recording was made.
Let’s work together to address this problem and prevent Alamo Heights from being labeled “easy
money”. These criminals work in teams and have their own network to share information. As a
community and police effort we should be doing the same.
WARNING: DO NOT confront these individuals. Call 9-1-1 and report what you are seeing from the
protection of your home.
Chief Rick Pruitt
Alamo Heights Police Department