BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies dismantled an organized theft ring this week after a raid at a southside home.
Two men are now facing multiple charges accused of stealing trucks, trailers and other high dollar construction equipment.
Albert Ramirez, Sr. and Santana Ayala were taken into custody this week in connection with a September theft case, and deputies believe they are linked to additional cases spanning across five counties.
On Sept. 5, two men are captured on surveillance video pulling into a New Braunfels business in a Ford F-250 truck, and then stealing a gooseneck trailer, worth thousands of dollars.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office posted the surveillance video on their Facebook page a few weeks later, hoping someone would come forward with information identifying the two men.
According to an arrest warrant, after BCSO posted that video, tips came pouring in from multiple law enforcement agencies leading deputies to the suspected owner of the Ford F-250 truck, 45-year-old Albert Ramirez, Sr.
Investigators say they tracked Ramirez to the Medina County Jail where he was being held on other charges.
According to police documents, Ramirez denied any involvement in the theft of the trailer, but after detectives presented “the facts of the case” to Ramirez, he admitted to driving the Ford F-250, and then pointed the finger at his alleged accomplice, 55-year-old Santana Ayala.
Ayala was arrested soon after when deputies determined his ankle monitor pinged at the scene of the stolen trailer, according to the arrest warrant.
In the meantime, Ramirez had been released from the Medina County jail, and undercover deputies started staking out his house off the 200 blk. of Mohawk Dr.
On Monday when Ramirez left his house, deputies were in hot pursuit, and along they way, deputies say they witnessed Ramirez cutting off his ankle monitor and tossing it on the ground.
Deputies then moved in and tried to pull over Ramirez who also had his son, 20-year-old Albert Ramirez, Jr. riding in the passenger seat.
But instead of pulling over, deputies said Ramirez put his car in reverse and sped off, hitting a parked vehicle as he tried to get away from deputies.
According to the arrest warrant, a short chase followed but when Ramirez got on the freeway going the wrong way, deputies were concerned about public safety and called off the chase.
Deputies finally caught up with Ramirez when he ditched the car off S. Flores St, but Ramirez and his son instead took off running, according to police documents.
Officials said Ramirez was found hiding under a house nearby, and his son, Albert Jr., was also taken into custody.
Albert Jr. was wanted on a felony theft warrant, and is now facing another charge of Evading.
Ramirez Sr., is facing a list of charges including for the theft of the trailer, along with Ayala.
In the meantime, deputies got the warrant to search Ramirez's home off Mohawk Dr., and found over 60 grams of crystal meth, marijuana, and a gun.
According to an arrest warrant, Ramirez and Ayala are no strangers. Both men are also wanted in connection to a skid steer stolen out of Atascosa County.
Detectives said Ramirez and Ayala may be involved in other thefts, including in Guadalupe County, where deputies there said the F-250 truck seen in the surveillance video was also stolen, according to the arrest warrant.
Investigators believe the two men haven’t been working alone and are part of a larger criminal enterprise, according to a statement from BCSO, and the search for additional suspects remains ongoing.
If you’ve seen the Ford F250 or have any information that would help lead to more arrests, contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 210-335-6000, or send an email to BCSOTIPS@bexar.org.