Thousands of dollars worth of tools stolen in broad daylight

SAN ANTONIO – An opportunistic crime that took place in a matter of minutes was caught on Danielle Gomez’s security camera.

Her husband stopped by their northwest home on Aug. 26 for lunch.

San Antonio police said that’s when a car pulled into their driveway and a man got out, rummaging through the bed of their truck.

“It makes my blood boil because it’s in broad daylight,” Gomez said. “I mean, there were 4 or 5 pieces from Milwaukee; that’s what you call a pack out,” Gomez said. “And they were heavy.”

The tools are not only heavy but also expensive. Gomez estimates their value at about $5,000.

“It was a huge success because he works in construction and he tries to bring all the tools he might need for the day,” Gomez explained.

San Antonio police data shows that between January and August 2024, there were 34,493 reported cases of theft and larceny, a 6% decrease from the same period last year.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said it was a common crime that needed to be addressed.

“Ideally, I would like to see a property crime program and something that we could potentially, in the future, work on with UTSA,” he said.

Until that solution is found, Gomez said his family is working to compensate for the huge blow to their finances and sense of security.

“It sucks,” she said. “You feel invaded. You don’t feel safe in your own neighborhood.”