Associated Press Writer
SAN ANTONIO- In the past few weeks, crime has risen in certain neighborhoods, specifically auto theft. There is no clear indication as to whether the crime is gang-related or not, however it has sparked an interest in stepping up efforts concerning safety in affected neighborhoods.
In one unfortunate incident last night, a local family whose names are being withheld due to the nature of the crime, was devastated when the driver of a stolen car plowed into the family’s minivan, causing the two young children to be taken to the hospital and the father to die at the scene. Emergency responders stated they did everything they could to revive the man. Police responded to the scene and identified the vehicle, but were unable to locate the driver of the car which had been reported stolen less than 24 hours before the accident. According to the mother of the family, the driver of the car fled on foot after the impact. Police have been unable to identify the thief as of yet, but state that they are working diligently on the case.
“We are unable to give any information on the suspect at this time, but we do have evidence and we are working very hard to bring the perpetrator to justice,” Detective Joseph Martinez said. “We are taking this case very seriously. A family has been left without a father, and two young children are seriously injured. We are doing all that we can in order to give this grieving family some peace of mind.”
Since February, more fatalities have occurred due to violent crime has risen nearly fifteen percent in San Antonio, leading concerned citizens to band together and form neighborhood watch organizations. Many organization leaders are asking local law enforcement for assistance, to include more officers on patrol in neighborhoods and even cameras to monitor residential areas. One resident, who declined to be named in this interview, states, “Last week, my neighbor was the victim of a home invasion. They broke into her house in broad daylight, tied them up, beat up her husband, and stole everything that wasn’t nailed down. Now I won’t even let my grandson come over to the house. It just isn’t safe.”
In response, police have offered training seminars for the neighborhood watches that have sprouted up, offering information on everything from gun safety and self-defense to proper ways to keep your home safe. “We are trying to inform residents of even simple things that they may not have thought of, such as, when you purchase a new television or laptop, be sure not to put the box out for it in the trash until pickup day. Otherwise, passing criminals will look at that as an invitation to break in. If you have a garage, keep your cars inside and the garage door closed. Invest in a better alarm system that comes with a GPS tracker. If you have a gun, learn how to use it, learn to keep it properly maintained. If you see an unfamiliar person in a car you don’t recognize in your area, be alert. We don’t want to cause a panic, but we also want to keep our streets safe,” Police Chief William Mc- Manus said on Thursday. “If people can be more aware of their surroundings, we can help prevent these unfortunate accidents. We owe it to the citizens to be less afraid - that’s part of our mission statement, to reduce fear.” Only time will tell if this will be an effective end to this recent string of crimes plaguing San Antonio.
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| Local San Antonio residents are serious about watching out for each other. This is an example of only one of several neighborhoods that are making a serious effort to do their part to make themselves and their neighbors just a little more safe. |
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