Updated: Vehicles Burglarized in FSR

The tally of vehicles burglarized in FSR overnight 20-21 June is now six according to homeowner accounts. Victims reside on Atwell Park (2), Burnwood (1), Sweetwood (2), and Twinpost (1). So far all incidents occurred on the south side of the neighborhood.

The Safety Committee awaits SAPD's monthly release of Police Calls by Neighborhood and the Express News Crimebase updates for more information.

Vehicles Burglarized in FSR

At least three vehicles were burglarized in Finesilver Ranch between 11:00 pm last night and 7:00 am today. The vehicles were parked on Burnwood, Sweetwood, and Twinpost. Victims reported an XM Radio receiver, credit card, and other items stolen.

SAPD, Blue Armor, and FSR Cellular on Patrol were notified.

FSR averages one rash of vehicle break-ins per year. This is the first summer occurrence and the first time burglaries happened overnight on a Saturday.

A comprehensive report will be posted once further details are available. See details of previous vehicle burglaries here.

Panel Truck Clips Gate Stonework, Runs

Gate camera video revealed a large panel truck struck the cap of the gate stonework while entering Finesilver Ranch, at about 11:35 Tuesday morning, 16 June. Gate operations were not effected.

No claims for responsibility were made, though two men believed to be associated with the damage were observed on the film clearing debris from the road about 20 minutes after the incident.

Fortunately, video quality was sufficient to read the license plate number, and markings on the truck led to identification of the company involved. A police report was filed while the HOA Board and Association Management Services are taking steps to recover the cost for repair.

Crashes at Braun & Finesilver Off Last Year's High

The San Antonio PD's Real Time Traffic page and the Texas Department of Transportation's Transguide reported a minor collision at Braun Rd and Finesilver Friday afternoon, June 12. No details are available.

This is the first known crash at the intersection since two reported there during October 2008. See the October 2008 Safety Committee Report for details on those incidents which culminated a record year.

Collisions here have quieted since last year: 2008 saw a total of five crashes and this is the first known to occur in 2009. Finesilver drivers are cautioned to become attuned to summer traffic patterns to avoid last year's trend.

May 2009 Safety Committee Report

Pool Vandalism Prompts Park Patrols

Three or four unidentified young males are suspected of throwing poolside items, a picnic table, and rocks into the pool on Friday, 15 May. A resident observed the teens at the play scape at around 9:45 pm noting all was in order at that time. Later, at about 10:30 pm, the same resident noticed the pool area was in disarray. Blue Armor Security has since instituted a nighttime park patrol.

The month of May is typically a mischievous time in and around the pool and park, but, like last year, a security officer's presence is expected to have a calming effect. The board also approved a $600 expenditure to investigate the installation of cameras and improved security lighting at the pool and community center for after hours coverage.

Gate Video Captures Another Hit & Run

Though not as dramatic as previous gate collisions, cameras revealed the cause for defective visitor gate operation, noticed Saturday, 16 May. A review of the video showed a vehicle struck the gate the day before. The registered owner was contacted for compensation of the repair bill.

Reflectors Mark Braun Rd Intersection

Thank you to neighborhood volunteers who added reflectors to mark the intersection of Finesilver and Braun Rds. These precede a decorative lighting upgrade of the "Finesilver Ranch" stonework, which, in addition to improved aesthetics, will assist drivers identify the intersection while approaching the neighborhood at night.

Cellular on Patrol

Patrols this month again notified homeowners of open garage doors. The pool vandalism was also reported to the FSR Safety Committee during one of five COP patrols conducted during May.

Blue Armor Patrol Summary

Officers conducted daily routine patrols and addressed a parking complaint on Atwell Park.

SAPD Responses

Police responded to 14 calls for service to FSR during May compared to 13 calls during May last year. The monthly average for 2008 was 14 responses.

During May 2009 SAPD recorded two suspicious persons, one on Atwell Park at 1:05 am, 3 May and another at Finesilver and Braun, 3:38 am, 16 May. There were six burglar alarm responses and four miscellaneous reports taken. An officer was dispatched to a burglary on Edgecreek, though apparently no formal report was taken. Finally, a Bedford Oaks resident reported a traffic violation.

SAPD logged two calls to the Greenbriar neighborhood near Nichols ES; a disturbance and a miscellaneous report.

Greenbriar, with about 1/4 the number of homes of Finesilver Ranch is the closest gated community and, presumably, has similar demographics for crime reporting comparison purposes.

Sex Offender WatchAs of this post, no registered sex offenders live in Finesilver Ranch.

SAFD Responses

Firefighters responded to four calls in FSR during May 2009: Three medical calls and one residential automatic fire alarm. Incidentally, the "unauthorized burning" reported last month was merely an outdoor barbecue according to an SAFD incident report.

Subscribe to the FSR Safety Committee Blog for updates throughout the month.

SAFD Releases Response Times, FSR Well-Placed

A News 4 WOAI report on San Antonio Fire Department emergency response times prompted a review of the department's expediency in answering Finesilver Ranch calls.

The department's overall response time city-wide is six minutes, and for units responding to FSR, residents also see the first fire engine on scene in about six minutes, according to SAFD reports. Coincidentally, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends the first responding unit should make the scene of an emergency within six minutes.

Response times are normally figured through an aggregation of the time it takes a citizen to access 911; the time for the 911 center to take the information, assign, and dispatch the call; and the time it takes for firefighters to turnout and travel to the location of the emergency.

Finesilver Ranch's "first due" engine is dispatched from Station 49 near Mystic Park and Bandera Rds. Apparatus from Station 41 near Tezel and Mainland also respond to FSR for more serious incidents such as house fires.

According to SAFD data provided to WOAI, Station 49's average response time to all calls in their first due area is seven minutes, thirty seconds; Station 41's is nine seconds slower. The FSR Safety Committee learned from an SAFD report that Engine 49's response time to a fire on Sweetwood last month was about six minutes.

Although responses to locations elsewhere in 49's district vary, Finesilver Ranch properties are well-situated for fire protection. Indeed, Stations 49 and 41 are nearly equidistant. Should Station 49 crews be occupied on another call, Station 41's response is presumed to be about the same. Further, the proximity of Station 41, serving as back-up to FSR's primary response station for structure fires, places first due and subsequent apparatus needed for full alarms on scene within the NFPA goal of eight minutes.

WOAI reported gated communities account for delays of up to an additional one minute, 30 seconds. To ensure closed FSR gates introduce as little delay as possible, first responders access the neighborhood by emergency key at the entry pedestal.

Firefighters are well-acquainted with the neighborhood streets as they regularly participate in FSR community activities. The Safety Committee and other neighborhood groups will continue to invite first responders to Finesilver Ranch as appropriate and as emergency calls allow. The gesture is good for community relations, encourages familiarity with neighborhood streets, and should ultimately improve response times.