As reported by KSAT, South Side business owners in San Antonio are facing an unsettling upswing in criminal activities, with incidents including arson and burglary. Rudy Lopez, the manager at Pica Pica Plaza, dealt with the shock of discovering the palm trees outside his business scorched early Tuesday morning. Nearby businesses along Pleasanton Road are encountering comparable acts of vandalism.
These events align with the experiences shared by Vanessa Salazar, the owner of La Sorpresa, who told KSAT, her establishment has been targeted four times in just two months. "I came in and everything was a mess right here where the register was at," Salazar lamented. "They’re just coming to damage the stuff, and there’s nothing to take." The relentless nature of these incidents suggests a threat that is, at once, specific in its geography and indiscriminate in its impact on the community fabric.
Jack Daniel, representing Lord's Barbershop in a statement to The Business Listing, relays a similar tale of repeated criminal activity that seems personal and pointed: "It has to be someone that knows the target." Both Lord’s Barbershop and La Sorpresa have reported losses exceeding $3,000 due to these break-ins, underscoring the significant toll these crimes have taken on local proprietors.
In response, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is encouraging businesses to contact a San Antonio Fear Free Environment (SAFFE) officer. According to SAPD, these officers can offer advice on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which might include enhanced lighting or the pruning of hedges to reduce the opportunities for crime. Meanwhile, councilwoman Phyllis J. Viagran has yet to comment on the situation, her office stating that she "will be briefed on these incidents soon," per her spokesperson’s statement to KSAT.
Lopez takes a stance rooted in resilience and community, urging vigilance and an appeal to the better natures of those responsible: "Whoever it was, whoever was here, I mean, we forgive you," he said. "Just stay away from Pica and just don’t do it to us and don’t do it to other communities," as reported by both KSAT and The Business Listing. His words resonate with a community touched by adversity, seeking solace and solutions in equal measure.
