SAN ANTONIO — Burglars are targeting cars at a west side apartment complex.
Tuesday alone, two vehicles were burglarized. San Antonio Police say one of those victims caught the criminals in the act.
This is happening at the Alannah at Westover Hills, a gated apartment community off 151 near 1604.
One tenant who called KENS 5 said apartment management won't act, so she's taking matters into her own hands. Sonya Morris wants to prove this crime is underreported in her complex, and the actual numbers would warrant extra security.
"I just want it to be out there. I want people to know," said Morris, who's lived at the complex for a year and a half. "I've asked a couple of people, they've had their car broken into. The lady last week had her car stolen."
Three months ago, Morris says her 2018 Hyundai was targeted by burglars in the parking lot of her complex.
"That time they did steal the car," Morris explained. "The cops found it after about a week. It was just abandoned somewhere."
Then, last Thursday, she says she found her rear passenger window of her car smashed.
"They stole all my clothes. That was really weird because I was going to take it to the homeless shelter," said Morris.
Morris said she's tried to alert employees at her complex.
"They refuse to get cameras. They will not even send out an e-mail to residents letting them know this happened. At least let them know," she said.
KENS 5 made contact with apartment management who acknowledged our request, and then referred us to Dayrise Residential, their corporate office. We're still waiting to hear back.
According to San Antonio Police, officers were called seven times to the Alannah at Westover Hills for car burglaries since October 1, 2022. Two of those cases happened Tuesday.
"I want anyone who's thinking of moving into [this complex] to know how many cars have been broken into...before they decide to come here and pay $1,600 for rent," said Morris.
As police investigate, Morris is doing some digging of her own. She's putting up a sign at her complex, asking people to reach out directly if their car was burglarized at Alannah at Westover Hills. Once she finishes her research, she plans to share that information with other current and future tenants.
We reached out to the San Antonio Apartment Association (SAAA), inquiring about additional security measures being taken at local complexes.
In a statement, SAAA's Executive Director, Kyle Ward, said: "The San Antonio Apartment Association is concerned with the all-around spike in car burglaries across the city that we have seen recently reported in the news. It is our understanding that members of the City Council's Public Safety Committee, Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito and Councilman Marc Whyte, are working towards slowing down the rates of thefts by working with the San Antonio Police Department to target organized crime rings with tactics like bait cars. We challenge our local police department to crack down on criminal activity. Apartment residents are encouraged to lock their cars and remove any valuables inside. It is also important to get to know your neighbors and help each other keep an eye out for suspicious activity to report to the authorities."
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