Israel Padilla is facing a burglary charge in connection to one incident, but police said more charges could be coming.
SAN ANTONIO — On Wednesday, San Antonio police arrested a 54-year-old man for allegedly breaking into a newly built home and stealing high dollar appliances.
Israel Padilla is facing a burglary charge in connection to one incident, but police said more charges could be coming.
This is the latest arrest in construction thefts. San Antonio police said they their property crimes task force is cracking down on these crimes specifically.
Sergeant Washington Moscoso said this type of crime is happening across San Antonio, prompting construction companies to install surveillance cameras on new vacant homes.
The cameras allowed investigators in this case to track down Padilla who told KENS 5 he didn’t have anything to do with the crime. They said he was seen loading appliances on the back of his truck and taking off. They believed he acted alone in this incident.
However, he is listed as a suspect in two other cases.
“In some of the cases, we also believe he’s been stealing building materials, tools, that kind of stuff from the construction sites,” Moscoso said.
Moscoso pointed out this is not a victimless crime. Ed Berlanga is the CEO of Texas Homes. He is now a victim of Padilla but said he has reported up to 15 thefts just this year to the police.
“Crime is pretty rampant in the construction industry,” Berlanga said.
It is a frustrating reality, but his company has taken precautionary measures. They install security cameras in newly built homes and in some instances have put trackers on appliances.
“When you had sheets of plywood, we would literally bolt them down,” Berlanga said. “We would put deer cameras up everywhere if it’s a remote area.”
It got so bad, at one point, Berlanga said they partnered up with SAPD and BSCO to take down a sting operation. But he said even though police do their jobs, oftentimes the thieves get away with the crime.
“We’ve literally caught people red handed, turned them over to the police, they typically get arrested, make bond, they’re out and they leave town,” Berlanga said. “So, seldom does it in my experience do they end up behind bars.”
He said it also is complicated when it comes to insurance claims. He said they often struggle with whether to file a claim or eat the cost.
“You have to weigh how many theft claims you put in because then it’s just going to affect your insurance rate,” Berlanga said.
But he said it is important they do what they can to keep suspects like Padilla held accountable.