Auto-theft arrest could clear more cases, cops say

The arrest of a fleeing motorist Saturday after a brief chase that started in Boerne and ended in San Antonio could provide more leads to help clear up a string of auto break-ins, officials said. 

Investigators believe the latest incident is connected to at least 10 reported vehicle burglaries and one confirmed vehicle theft of a silver Ford pickup that occurred between two hotels in the Boerne area over the weekend. 

Daniel Balderas, 20, of San Antonio, remained Tuesday in the Kendall County Jail in lieu of posting binds totaling $435,000.  

He is charged in a warrant out of Kinney County with smuggling of persons/fleeing, as well as new offenses including evading arrest, unlawful carrying of a firearm, theft of a firearm, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful use of a criminal instrument and 10 counts of burglary of a vehicle. 

A second person remains at large, officers said. 

According to reports, the case began at 2:34 a.m. Aug. 23 when a Boerne Police Department officer making a routine security check at the Best Western Boerne Inn and Suites spotted “suspicious behavior” involving two vehicles: a gray Nissan Altima and the Ford pickup. 

The officer saw a man get out of the passenger seat of the Nissan and climb into the Ford, which police later confirmed as stolen. 

According to officials, the Nissan driver ignored an attempt by the officer to stop him and sped away on Interstate 10 headed to San Antonio.  

The truck — valued at $100,000 — also drove off and remains the subject of a police search. 

Multiple agencies including the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit of the Nissan. Spike strips strewn across the roadway disabled the Nissan near I-10 and Loop 1604 in north San Antonio about 3:35 a.m. 

The Nissan crashed into a concrete barrier, police said. The motorist bailed out and ran away, but a Boerne K-9 dog tracked the man behind a neighboring business, according to reports. 

He was arrested at 3:54 a.m., investigators said. 

Police said a search of the Nissan – later reported stolen in San Antonio – revealed tools commonly associated with vehicle theft, including screwdrivers, pliers, a power drill and a diagnostic scanner capable of bypassing vehicle security systems. 

Officers also recovered a handgun from the vehicle.