SAFD Extinguishes Burning Deck in Braun Farm

Eighteen firefighters and support personnel responded Saturday evening, 16 January, to a barbecue fire on the 9700 block of Quiet Lake in the Braun Farm subdivision.  According to an SAFD report, the cook attempted to start the grill with gasoline when the can ignited and fell to the wood deck.  Residents contained the fire with a carpet until fighfighters arrived.  There was minimal damage to the deck and no injuries were reported.

Domestic Dispute Turns into Police Standoff

A man who had just been released from a veteran's hospital held police at bay for about two hours last night at the Silver Rock Apartments on Camino Villa near Bandera Rd.  The man's estranged wife called police at about 8:00 after he entered the woman's home in violation of a restraining order, according to press reports.  The woman left the residence unharmed, but it took a SWAT team and non-lethal bean bag pellets to subdue the man. 

During the standoff the man threw a variety of objects at officers including a failed Molotov cocktail.  He was charged with assault on a police officer, burglary, and violation of a protective order.  See details at KSAT12 and News4.

December 2009 Safety Committee Report

A Night of Vehicle Burglaries and Suspicious Activity
At least three Finesilver Ranch families were victims of vehicle break-ins overnight 27 – 28 December. Apparently the four vehicles involved were unlocked allowing the burglars to enter and rummage for valuables. Anecdotal reports indicate nothing was taken. There are no official police reports of these incidents.

The same night, at about 1:00 am, Blue Armor Security observed four suspicious males on foot near the park.  They later entered a green Honda and drove away to avoid the patrolman.  The officer followed the Honda out the gate and obtained a license plate number.

Unfortunately, police have nothing to investigate since none of the burglary victims filed a report. The neighborhood Cellular on Patrol and Blue Armor Security were informed of the activity.

Incidentally, the Safety Committee learned of another two vehicle burglaries on Sweetwod and Briarwood occurring the night of 4 – 5 January. In these cases windows were broken and personal property of marginal value was taken.  At least one of the victims filed a police report.

Man Possibly Poses as Peace Officer
Other suspicious activity included reports of an unfamiliar security vehicle patrolling FSR streets on 8 December. This coincided with a complaint of a uniformed man who, while possibly posing as a police officer, confronted teenagers at the park. A witness observed a dark blue sedan with a red stripe parked at the community center at the time.

It is not conclusively known whether the man was a legitimate officer or not. However, the incidents may be related to the arrest elsewhere in San Antonio of a former security company employee accused of harassment and other police impersonation incidents.

Blue Armor is the contracted security service for Finesilver Ranch. Their vehicles are white with blue lettering and red stripes.  Officers wear a dark blue or black uniform. If you observe any other security company in Finsesilver Ranch, call Association Management Services, 829-7202.

Cellular on Patrol
Members of Finesilver Ranch’s COP met 8 December to plan 2010 activities. There are currently about 20 active members who watch for suspicious activity and promote crime prevention on a daily basis.  They also performed weekly scheduled patrols last year.  Late night patrols are scheduled for the coming year as well.

If interested in joining COP, see the flyer recently distributed door-to-door.

Blue Armor Patrol Summary
Security officers emphasized early morning coverage in an effort to deter vehicle burglaries.  In one case, 31 December at about 1:40 am, an officer observed a pick-up truck racing to the gate in an effort to tailgate another through the entrance.  Noticing the patrolman, the truck driver backed down the entry and departed west.  The Blue Armor officer copied the license plate and followed the vehicle to Loop 1604.  

On 22 December, while patrolling the park on foot at about 1:00 am, an officer observed three males and one female run from the woods adjacent to the pool into a white Nissan parked at the community center.  The officer caught up to the vehicle as it exited FSR; a license plate number was obtained.

Also, Blue Armor received the report of the 8 December possible impersonation case, and on the 26th, directed three solicitors off the property.  

SAPD Responses
Police responded to 15 service calls in Finesilver Ranch during December, compared to 11 during December last year. The monthly average for 2008 was 14 calls.

• A home on Edgecreek was reportedly burglarized. No further information is available as of this post.
• A minor accident was reported around 1:00 am, 5 December on Sweetwood.  It is not clear whether the crash actually occurred in Finesilver Ranch.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported Saturday, 12 December on Andover Creek at about 4:30 pm.
• There were two theft reports.  At least one of these occurred at a location away from FSR.

Police also made two burglar alarms, responded to three disturbances, and took five "miscellaneous" reports.

There were two police responses to the Greenbriar neighborhood near Nichols ES, both of them burglar alarms.

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

Sex Offender Watch
No registered sex offenders reside in Finesilver Ranch as of this post.

SAFD Responses
San Antonio Fire and EMS responded to a record five emergency calls in Finesilver Ranch during December. There were two medical calls and two automatic residential alarms. Firefighters also ventillated a kitchen due to a "brisket flame up," according to an incident report.

Follow FSRsafety on Twitter
Join Twitter and follow FSRsafety to receive time sensitive announcements of neighborhood safety and crime prevention concerns online and via text message.

During December, FSRsafety issued 22 "tweets" on public safety interests occurring in and immediately surrounding Finesilver Ranch.

Subscribe to the FSR Safety Committee Blog and follow on Twitter for updates throughout the month.  Contact the committee via email:  FSRsafety@yahoogroups.com.  Call Association Management Services (829-7202) for more contact information.

Spill at Exxon Elicits SAFD Response

The San Antonio Fire Department dispatched three units and nine firefighters to contain a "flammable liquid spill" at the Exxon gas station, Bandera and Braun Rds, at about 6:30 last night. Firefighters were at the scene for a couple of hours.  According to an SAFD website there were no injuries, no property loss.

Gate Video Records Hit and Run

The gate cameras recorded a maroon suburban that ran into the exit gate today.  The vehicle drove off with damage to the front fender, driver's side.  A license plate number was retrieved for further investigation.

Association Management Services dispatched the gate company for repairs, which were already underway late this afternoon.

Vehicle Burglars Target Camino Bandera

Some Finesilver Ranch residents are not alone in dealing with a recent spate of vehicle burglaries.  A review of police calls for the month of December revealed at least seven vehicles were burglarized within the Camino Bandera neighborhood east of Finesilver Ranch.  All of the break-ins were reported 16 and 17 December and were located within a few blocks of the Camino Villa and Camino Bandera intersection.

The same area was struck during October, though in those cases the vehicles were parked at nearby apartments.

Finesilver Ranch residents were victimized 27 - 28 December and
4 - 5 January.

San Antonio Police warn against leaving valuables in vehicles:  Leave it, Lose it.  

COP, Block Captains to Distribute Crime Prevention Flyers

Be on the lookout for a flyer on your door highlighting vehicle burglary prevention tips.  Information on Finesilver Ranch's Cellular on Patrol, an official San Antonio Police neighborhood watch program, is also included.  Thank you block captains for the assist!

Helo Overhead Last Night, Possibly Related to Shooting Near Mainland

A San Antonio Police helicopter was observed over Finesilver Ranch around midnight last night.  The activity may have been related to a possible gang related shooting which, according to multiple news outlets (Express News, WOAI, KABB), occurred around 11:30 Sunday night near Mainland Rd.

A teen was shot outside a house on the 7800 block of Mainland Woods in the Village in the Woods subdivision.  He is recovering at University Hospital.  Police said the boy claimed he was shot while in his vehicle near Tezel and Guilbeau Rds, though there was no evidence to support this.  The search continues for two shooters, one of them known to the victim.