Saddlebrook Neighbors Attempt to Extinguish Fire

Residents of the Saddlebrook neighborhood near Braun and 1604 called the fire department Tuesday, 16 November after noticing smoke emanating from an attached garage on Preakness Pass.  Their attempts to put the fire out with a garden hose failed when they couldn't open the garage door.  The homeowner was away at the time of the fire, about 3:00 pm, according to an SAFD report.

Three engines, a ladder truck, and a medic made the scene with the first crew arriving in about six minutes.  Damage was sustained throughout the garage, a wall on the second story, and a portion of the attic.  A vehicle parked inside was also damaged. 

Firefighters were on the scene for about 90 minutes.  They determined the fire started among combustible materials stored on a shelf in the garage.  The value of property lost was not given.  There were no injuries.

It's been a busy month for Braun area SAFD stations.  Firefighters also responded to brush fires reported at Braun and Leslie on the 13th, another at 1604 and Braun the 19th, and a small fuel spill at the Valero, Bandera and Prue, on 12 November.

City Crew Accidentally Knocks Out Power

A City of San Antonio crew working in the vicinity of Single Spur and Braun accidentally cut service to an overhead power line this morning at around 11:00, according to a CPS representative.

Power to Finesilver Ranch was intermittent, and mostly out, for about an hour.  According to the CPS Energy Outage Map, at one point over four thousand customers were without power.  Service appeared to be mostly restored by 2:00 Monday afternoon, though eight customers were still without power at 4:00.

Escaped Cougar Locks-Down Area Schools

A cougar escaped from her enclosure at the Wild Animal Orphanage near New Guilbeau and 1604 Friday morning. The scare resulted in an hours-long "soft" lock down of area schools while police swept several acres surrounding the Leslie Rd facility. Students of at least one Northside school, Galm ES, spent recess inside.

The sedated cougar was returned to
Wild Animal Orphanage (KSAT.com)

The first call for help came when the former manager of the sanctuary saw the cougar attacking her dog at her nearby home.

She kicked the big cat away before it could inflict a fatal injury, but the dog remains under the care of a vet.

By 3:30 the cougar was located near Leslie and 1604 and darted with a tranquilizer. Both dog and cat are recovering nicely.

Local media provided broad coverage:  NEWS4, KENS5, KSAT12, FOX29, and Express News.

Auto Burglars Loot Finesilver Ranch

Six vehicles were burglarized overnight Wednesday between 11:30 and 5:30, all on the south side of FSR. Three break-ins occurred on Edgecreek and one each was reported on Atwell Park, Summer Bluff, and Boundbrook.

One victim passed an anecdotal report from a resident who observed "a suspicious light colored mustang driving down Finesilver with its lights off." The resident later "heard it driving around the neighborhood." It is unknown whether police were called on sighting the suspicious vehicle.

It was only two weeks a go that burglars hit five autos in the Greenbriar neighborhood. That crime spree included a single break-in within FSR, 28 October, also on Edgecreek. A vehicle burglary also occurred on Boundbrook, 14 October.

A pattern has emerged: The south side of FSR is most vulnerable, thieves prefer weeknights, and they're attracted to electronics left in the open and any bag or case which may merely appear to contain valuables. Gate video, security logs, and police reports will be reviewed to develop a better understanding of these latest burglaries.

Finesilver Ranch Cellular on Patrol volunteers and Blue Armor Security have been alerted. If you see suspicious activity, call 207-SAPD, or, if you believe a crime is in progress, call 911. If you'd like to join FSR's COP team, call Association Management Services, 829-7202, or email FSRsafety@yahoogroups.com.

Attempted Car-jackings at Braun Rd Gas Stations

Two women were victims of separate car-jacking attempts at gas stations on Braun Rd late Monday night or early Tuesday.  The incidents happened within minutes of each other according to a KENS5 report. 

The first incident occurred at the Valero station at 1604 and Braun.  The victim refused to relinquish her truck, so the would-be thieves broke a window and dented the vehicle in several places.

Shortly after, the crooks attempted to steal a vehicle from another woman, this time at the Exxon station at Bandera and Braun.

According to the news report, SAPD has the license plate number and video of the assailants.  The time of the incidents and number of suspects involved were not provided by KENS5. 

October 2010 Safety Committee Report

Burglaries and Thefts Reported
Two autos were burglarized, one on Boundbrook, 14 October and another on Edgecreek on the 28th. The latter was one of many vehicle burglaries that occurred in Braun area neighborhoods, 26 - 28 October. 

Greenbriar, near Nichols ES, was hit hardest with thefts from six vehicles . 

Burglars are after GPS receivers, other electronics, cash and credit cards, and any bag or case that may appear to contain these items (whether they do or not).

Less costly, but invasive none-the-less:  A decorative deer went missing from a front yard on Atwell Park, overnight 10 October.  This is a repeat theft of garden features from this property.  One-by-one they disappear, so, according to the homeowner, they won't be replaced.

New Gate Post Struck

The entry gate was damaged yet again, 6 October despite the smaller footprint presented by the new center post. The repair came faster and cheaper, but FSR residents are stuck with the bill:  Video shows the hit and run vehicle, a white "dually" pick-up pulling a goose neck trailer, had no plates.

Mind the Signs

It's your neighborhood, your neighbors, your vehicle, your responsibility.  Drive friendly, FSR!

Cellular on Patrol
Neighborhood volunteers conducted four patrols during October, including two on Halloween night.  There was nothing significant to report. 

The COP is always open to new volunteers. Call AMS (829-7202) or email FSRsafety@yahoogroups.com for more information.

Blue Armor Patrol Summary
Early Saturday afternoon, 16 October, an officer approached juveniles playing with paint guns at the open space near Finesilver and Cove Creek.  The kids ran off before the officer could inform them of ordinances prohibiting their use.

An officer observed several juveniles at the community center at about 10:30 pm, Thursday, 21 October.  All of them ran into the woods on seeing the Blue Armor patrol car drive up.  Despite the suspicious behavior, the officer found everything in its place. 

Blue Armor made extra patrols of FSR streets the night before, during, and after Halloween festivities.  There was nothing significant to report.

SAPD Responses
Police responded to only six calls for service in Finesilver Ranch marking low call volume for two consecutive months.  There were 16 calls during October last year. The 2009 call average was 12 per month.

Officers investigated a vehicle burglary on Edgecreek, a suspicious vehicle on Bakerswood, two burglar alarms, took a "miscellaneous" report, and assisted fire/EMS with an injured or sick party.

The Greenbriar neighborhood near Nichols ES surpassed FSR's October call load. There were six vehicle burglaries, a report of threats, a disturbance, a missing person, and two cases marked "miscellaneous."
Greenbriar has about 1/4 the number of homes as Finesilver Ranch and presumably has similar demographics for crime reporting comparison.

Sex Offender Watch
As of this post, there are no registered sex offenders residing in FSR.

SAFD Responses
San Antonio Fire/EMS made two medical calls to Finesilver Ranch during October.

Receive Safety Committee Updates Throughout the Month
Subscribe to the FSR Safety Committee Blog and follow FSRsafety on Twitter for area safety and crime prevention news throughout the month.

Questions or concerns? Post a comment on the Blog, email FSRsafety@yahoogroups.com, or call Association Management Services (829-7202)

Join the conversation with over 70 neighbors on the Finesilver Ranch Facebook Group.

Oven Fire Extinguished at Stagecoach Run

An engine and a ladder company responded to a kitchen fire on the 9300 block of Aspen Oak in Stagecoach Run at about 12:30 pm Sunday. Firefighters quickly extinguished grease which had ignited in the oven. 

SAFD confirmed the fire had not extended elsewhere then cleared the scene after about 10 minutes.  There were no injuries and no property damage was reported.

Auto Burglars Return to Braun Area Neighborhoods

Seven vehicles in Finesilver Ranch, Greenbriar, and Silverbrook were burglarized 26 - 28 October   according to SAPD reports.  Greenbriar was hit hardest with five burglaries.  The lone burglary in FSR occurred on Edgecreek, Thursday the 28th.

Multiple vehicle burglary incidents are rare in Greenbriar, the small gated community off Braun near Nichols ES.  Possibly most FSR residents were spared this time as disappointed burglars moved to a more target rich environment.

Remain alert.  Braun neighborhoods were last targeted during September and outbreaks of multiple vehicle burglaries in a single night have occurred in FSR three times this year with other single incidents interspersed.

Leave it; Lose it.