Elderly San Antonio Woman Wakes to Find Two Burglars in Her Bedroom
Finn's Take· TL;DR- 80-year-old woke to find masked burglars in bedroom; quick thinking and gasoline smell possibly prevented arson attack.
- Thieves fled with purse after finding it, leaving lighter behind; suspects targeted with burglary bars disabled using tools.
- Police have physical evidence including shoe prints, fingerprints, clothing; community fears pattern of elderly resident home invasions.
A Nightmare in the Night
An 80-year-old San Antonio woman named Annie faced every homeowner's worst fear when she woke up at 4 a.m. this week to find two masked burglars standing in her bedroom . A thunderstorm was raging outside, masking the sound of shattering glass as the intruders climbed on a large plastic pot and used hand tools to disable her burglar bars before breaking into her east side home .
Annie demonstrated remarkable composure during the terrifying encounter, pretending to remain asleep while the masked men searched her home . Her quick thinking may have saved her life when she smelled gasoline and feared they might burn down the house with her inside .
Quick Thinking Saves a Life
Annie believes the burglars were about to strike a match to cover their crime when they discovered her purse and fled with it instead . She found a lighter left behind on the table where her purse had been sitting, suggesting the small amount of cash in her wallet may have inadvertently saved her from a much worse fate .
The thieves made off with her entire purse containing credit cards, identification, social security information, and passport . They even took all her keys from the front door on their way out . The ordeal left Annie with lingering health effects, including persistent headaches and elevated blood pressure from the trauma .
Pattern of Crimes Worries Neighborhood
The Dignowity Hill neighborhood near the Hays Street bridge has been on high alert for weeks due to similar crimes targeting elderly residents . Neighbors suspect the same perpetrators may be responsible for a massive house fire on April 17 at the corner of Nolan and Cherry streets that destroyed an elderly woman's home, as well as a 5 a.m. burglary on nearby Hackberry Street the day before .
Despite wearing masks, the suspects left behind crucial evidence including fresh shoe prints in soft mud, fingerprints on touched items, and an article of clothing . Annie described both men as short-statured, bald Hispanics with multiple tattoos, with one having a particularly thin frame .
Community Seeks Justice and Security
Annie hopes detectives will solve the case quickly so neighbors can feel safe again . Her experience highlights the vulnerability of elderly residents and the brazen nature of criminals who specifically target this demographic during overnight hours when victims are most defenseless.
The case represents a disturbing trend of home invasions targeting senior citizens in San Antonio. With physical evidence and witness descriptions available, law enforcement has promising leads to pursue. The community's heightened awareness and Annie's detailed account provide hope that these dangerous criminals will be apprehended before they can terrorize more innocent residents.