SAN ANTONIO, TX – Armed with high-powered rifles, men dressed in fatigues and black T-shirts emblazoned with the word, “Security,” trekked through the streets of a Northwest Bexar County community in the wee hours of one recent morning. Many of their neighbors, meanwhile, slept soundly in their homes.
Members of the group, called the “Armed Volunteer Security Detail,” asked us not to reveal the exact location in which they patrol. However, the neighborhood is located in the area of Loop 1604 and Culebra Road.
The self-appointed keepers of the gated subdivision also were careful to hide their identities, shielding their faces from our camera. What they were not shy about, though, was their purpose—to make their community safer.
“We're not out here enforcing law. I want to make that real clear,” said one member, who identified himself as Mr. Black. “We're out here protecting people's property rights."
Black and the others formed the group, which is not sanctioned by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in response to what they believe is an increase in crime. They said they’ve noticed a recent wave of car burglaries in their community. There also was a shooting reported in the area last month.
Another patroller, who called himself Mr. Red, said some of the crime has hit close to home for him. A neighbor’s surveillance camera recorded someone rifling through his car, which he had left unlocked, he said.
“They also tried to open my truck,” he said. “Once he got that close to my daughter's bedroom, I wasn't going to have it anymore."
Rather than feel helpless, the residents, who all have military backgrounds, decided to take their safety into their own hands. They hit the streets in the early morning hours when car burglars are most likely to strike, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Members said they patrol several days per week, all of them armed with rifles, such as AR 15s.
Black said the idea is to make their presence known. If it becomes necessary, he said, they are prepared to take action.
“As soon as (criminals) see us, if they're up to no good, they're going to go ahead and get on out of here. That's how that generally works,” Black said. “It's not meant to intimidate any of the residents here because we are residents here."
When asked about the issue of armed patrols recently, Bexar County Sheriff’s spokesman James Keith said his department does not need help enforcing the law.
Black said what he and his fellow patrol members are doing is perfectly legal. He said under Texas law, they have a right to carry their weapons openly.