Theft is one of the most common crimes, and typically, people rely on the police to handle it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for one neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas. A Redditor using the name pizzatime1979 shared that their neighbor caught someone on video stealing patio furniture and tracked the thief to a nearby home known for hosting garage sales every weekend. When the police arrived, they reportedly said they couldn’t take action unless the stolen items were worth more than $1,500. In that case, the only consequence would be a ticket. Since the value fell below that threshold, the thief faced no legal repercussions.
Frustrated by the lack of accountability, the Redditor took to the platform to share the story. Many users expressed outrage over the police response, while others responded with dark humor. One user suggested, “Steal it back?” which prompted another to reply, “Texas. Might get shot,” followed by a third who added, “Texas. Shoot back.”
Not everyone took the situation lightly. Some Reddit users responded with serious concern, including one who shared a troubling personal experience involving the San Antonio Police Department. According to the Redditor, they witnessed a young woman screaming and running from her abusive boyfriend just 300 to 400 feet away from five SAPD patrol cars, which were blocking off several neighborhood entrances. When the Redditor reversed their car to alert the officers, they claimed the police refused to intervene or even call it in over their radios. Instead, they were threatened with a ticket for standing in the middle of the road.
Roughly 25 minutes later, a single officer was finally dispatched to the scene. However, after a brief drive through the area, they were unable to locate the distressed woman and left. The Redditor voiced their frustration, noting that while officers ignored a clear cry for help, they remained fixated on guarding a downed power line that posed no immediate threat.
This user wasn’t alone in their frustration with San Antonio police. Another Redditor shared that a few months ago, two men backed a truck up to the lobby of their senior apartment building and began loading the furniture. Although the police were called and the suspects were taken away, the situation didn’t end there. A few hours later, the same men returned, got into their truck, and simply drove off because SAPD had failed to have the vehicle towed.
It’s safe to say the entire thread became a hub for many San Antonio residents to vent their frustrations with the police. It was clear that numerous people had negative experiences with the officers, leaving them feeling powerless and with little option but to voice their criticism online.
