JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Each summer, Security Forces at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Camp Bullis see a dramatic increase in thefts involving unsecured personal property.
In some cases, a victim’s property was left unattended and in plain view inside a vehicle, outside their home, at the gym, or even in the workplace. In other cases, the victim’s vehicle was in the driveway of their home, unlocked or with the windows rolled down, making it even easier for a thief to steal their property.
Whether victims realized it at the time or not, they were communicating an unintentional message to would-be thieves, “Here is my property. Come steal it!”
That message was easily recognized by thieves in each of these cases, and they wasted no time springing into action.
In each case, the loss of the victim’s valuable items could have easily been prevented if they had taken a few simple steps to secure their personal property.
Such steps include: removing all property from parked vehicles, securing property inside a garage or home, properly securing valuables in provided gym lockers, and keeping personal property secured and out of plain sight in the workplace.
Additionally, bikes, scooters, music listening devices, game systems and smartphones should be marked and their serial numbers recorded for future reference in the event of a theft.
Security Forces also highly recommend homes and garages to be secured. This means all windows, entry doors and garage doors should be closed and locked unless the homeowner is present and can observe the area.
Remember, Security Forces are always ready to respond when called. To report thefts or suspicious activity at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston or JBSA-Camp Bullis, call the 502nd Security Forces Squadron/Police at 210-221-2244.
The partnership between JBSA Security Forces and the community is essential to prevent crimes before they occur and solve crimes when they do.
The first line of defense in securing your personal property from theft is you. With your action, we can send would-be thieves a clear, intentional message, “There is nothing here for you to steal!”