Car Burglars Target Spring Break Visitors at West Side Hotels

San Antonio police investigate at least 9 car break-ins near SH 151 and Loop 410

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:04pm

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San Antonio police are investigating at least nine car burglaries that occurred around 7 a.m. on Thursday at two West Side hotels - the Spring Hill Suites and the Best Western. The break-ins targeted vehicles belonging to spring break visitors, with thieves reportedly looking for guns inside the vehicles. Surveillance footage shows a person dressed in black quickly breaking into a parked pickup truck and scouring the interior before fleeing, all in less than a minute.

Why it matters

These car burglaries highlight the ongoing challenge of property crime targeting tourists and visitors, especially during peak travel seasons like spring break. The incidents raise concerns about hotel security measures and the ability of law enforcement to deter and respond to such fast-moving crimes.

The details

Police said officers had reports of six break-ins at the Spring Hill Suites and three others at the Best Western across the street. One victim, Brent Boyko from Waco, found his truck's window shattered when he went to check on it. An anonymous hotel employee said car break-ins have become frequent occurrences, particularly during holiday periods. Surveillance footage from the Best Western showed a person dressed in black quickly breaking into a parked pickup truck and fleeing in less than a minute.

  • The car burglaries occurred around 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  • This was the second set of burglaries at the Best Western within the past week or so.

The players

Brent Boyko

A Waco resident who had his truck's window shattered during the break-ins while visiting San Antonio for spring break with his family.

Spring Hill Suites

A hotel in San Antonio's West Side where six of the car break-ins occurred.

Best Western

A hotel across the street from the Spring Hill Suites where three of the car break-ins occurred, marking the second set of burglaries at this hotel within the past week.

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What they’re saying

“Talking to the police, they said they're targeting, looking for guns. So they're in and out looking for guns.”

— Brent Boyko (KSAT)

What’s next

Police are continuing to investigate the car burglaries and review surveillance footage to try to identify the suspects.

The takeaway

These car break-ins during spring break highlight the ongoing challenge of protecting visitors and their property, even at hotels with security measures in place. The incidents underscore the need for heightened vigilance and coordination between law enforcement, hotels, and the community to deter and respond to such fast-moving property crimes.