SAN ANTONIO – Three burglars who San Antonio police say broke into a smoke shop and carted off armloads of smoking accessories Friday morning seem to have disappeared like a puff of smoke.
Officers have not been able to find them, according to SAPD’s public information office.
At the scene, one officer told KSAT 12 News he was responding to a call about a ringing burglar alarm at Five Star Smoke Shop just before 5:30 a.m. when he saw three men running from the business.
It appeared someone had smashed the glass to the front door of the shop, located in the 3500 block of Broadway, to gain entry.
The officer said the men who he saw running away jumped into a car and sped off.
He said he chased them through the neighborhood until, at one point, they drove onto the grounds of the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
Knowing that the property only has one way in and out, the officer said he parked near the front gate waiting for the suspects to exit.
Still, they were able to drive by police, but later crashed nearby, on Broadway.
All three people inside the vehicle then got out and ran, leaving the car and some of the stolen property behind.
They also left a trail of boxes, which police say contained vape pens, as well as other smoking accessories, all along Broadway.
Police searched the area, using a helicopter above and dogs on the ground, but did not find the burglars.