What was supposed to be a laid-back weekend at McAllister Park on San Antonio’s Northeast side turned tense after park-goers say they discovered multiple vehicles with smashed windows in broad daylight. Shards of glass littered the parking lots, and visitors left rattled are now pushing the city and police for more patrols and better surveillance at the popular green space.
A video shared on social media captured the aftermath of the break-ins and, according to News 4 San Antonio, a regular identified only as Raul estimated that “five or six cars” were hit. He described finding “just glass all over the place.” The outlet reported that it reached out to the San Antonio Police Department and the city’s park police division for comment but did not receive a response because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Volunteers Say They Already Call It In
Friends of McAllister Park, the volunteer group that helps maintain the park’s trails and amenities, has long been active in flagging problems to city staff, according to Community Impact. Neighbors say the group, along with regular park users, stays in contact with authorities and now wants clearer follow-up and more visible responses when break-ins like these happen.
Context: Car Burglaries Across the City
The smash-and-grabs at McAllister Park are landing in the middle of a broader concern about car burglaries across San Antonio. KSAT reported that the San Antonio Police Department activated a Holiday Crime Reduction Task Force after about 224 vehicle burglaries were recorded at shopping centers between Jan. 1 and Nov. 20. Police have said citywide efforts during busy seasons include targeted patrols of crowded parking areas.
How Park-Goers Are Protecting Themselves
In the meantime, visitors and volunteers at McAllister Park are leaning on the basics: hide valuables, lock doors and keep keys handy. That simple advice echoed around the park after the latest incidents. As News 4 San Antonio noted, regulars warned fellow visitors, “Hide your things, lock your vehicle, and take your keys.”…