A San Antonio man is in custody after investigators say he swiped laptops and keyboards from seven Bexar County Sheriff’s Office vehicles while the units were in for routine maintenance. The break-ins were discovered during servicing, and the investigation is still active as deputies work to track down all of the missing equipment and figure out whether any agency data or case files were exposed.
According to KENS5, deputies identified the suspect as Lorenzo Deleon and charged him with engaging in criminal activity. Investigators say a tip led them to Deleon, who admitted to picking up another man and trying to sell the stolen laptops and a leaf blower. Officials told the station that detectives are still chasing leads and working to pin down the full scope of the thefts.
How investigators say it unfolded
BCSO investigators say the thefts happened on Tuesday while seven marked patrol units were parked for routine fleet maintenance. Laptops and keyboards were among the items taken, and detectives say they traced suspicious activity to the suspect after information came in from the public. The sheriff’s office is not releasing the specific maintenance location or a detailed inventory of what was stolen while the probe continues.
Why stolen police laptops matter
Mobile computers in patrol vehicles can store reports, photos, and other records that could jeopardize investigations or personal privacy if someone without authorization gains access. Security guidance from NIST recommends encryption, centralized device management, and remote-wipe tools to reduce harm when devices are lost or stolen. After incidents like this, local agencies typically audit device inventories and logs to see whether information access or chain-of-custody might have been affected.
Not an isolated problem
The arrest comes amid a broader wave of vehicle-related theft and burglary cases across Bexar County. For example, KSAT recently reported on a separate arrest tied to multiple burglaries in west Bexar County. Deputies say tips from residents often make the difference in recovering stolen gear and closing these kinds of cases.
What happens next
Deleon faces an allegation of engaging in criminal activity, and detectives say they plan to present evidence to prosecutors as the investigation moves forward. If additional suspects or stolen items are identified, authorities could expand the case depending on what investigators recover and how the evidence develops.
Anyone with information about the thefts is urged to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office or submit tips through the agency’s tip line so detectives can follow up.
