Thread: Texas: Vega Verde burglaries worry residents

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Vega Verde burglaries worry residents

By Jennifer Killin
Del Rio News-Herald

Published August 3, 2005

A rash of burglaries and other incidents along Vega Verde Road, formerly Cienegas Road, have residents of that area concerned about their safety.

Vega Verde Road is a stretch of mostly paved roadway that runs almost parallel with the Rio Grande west of Del Rio.

Many landowners in the Vega Verde area feel that they are being taken advantage of by residents of Mexico just because of where they live.

According to reports from numerous families that inhabit the area, Mexican nationals will illegally enter the United States by crossing the Rio Grande and burglarize their homes.

One resident said her troubles started about a year and a half after she moved to the area and got so bad she ended up selling her home and moving to another area.

“We had to move out to the lake where it was safe,� said Rosalinda Turuda during a phone interview Tuesday.

Turuda’s house, which was located on Vega Verde Road directly across the Rio Grande from Mexico, was broken into a number of times beginning in October 2004.

Turuda said the thieves would take, or attempt to take, anything they could, even the family’s pet dog.

After the first incident the family installed a security system for home protection and peace of mind, stated Turuda, but even that didn’t stop her woes.

Turuda stated that one morning around 4 four men, she believed were from across the river, showed up and knocked on her front door.

“They were probably just looking for shelter, but you never know, so my husband scared them away with our sons BB gun.�

According to Turuda, that was the last straw, they packed up and moved soon after.

Another resident of the area, Tommy Vick, said that this has been a problem for some time.

Vick stated that the break-ins will come in waves, and with each wave the thieves seem to get more brazen. They will not only go into the homes to steal, but also to destroy personal property.

Other residents in the area echoed the same concerns with countless stories of theft, burglary, destruction and harassment.

“It’s like it’s a big game to them,� said Rhonda Vick, Tommy Vick’s wife.

In the wake of the Bordelon incident, where one man was sent to jail after shooting a man who, Bordelon said, had broken into his home, many residents are concerned about what measures they can take to defend themselves and their homes.

“If we hurt someone breaking into our home, we either go to jail, or get slapped with a lawsuit,� said one resident who asked that their name be withheld.

One thing everyone agreed on was that the Sheriff’s Department and Border Patrol do a good job patrolling the area, but like Vick said “They can’t be at everyone’s house all the time.�

According to Val Verde County Sheriff’s records, within the past three months there have been six incidents in the Vega Verde area.

However, residents believe that number is not an accurate reporting of what really happens in their area.

One homeowner said that a lot of times people don’t even bother to report the thefts because everyone feels as if nothing can be done about it.

Terry Simons, VVCSO Chief Deputy, said that a cooperative effort among Vega Verde residents, local businesses, the federal government, and the sheriff’s department resulted in the installation of four video cameras along the Rio Grande to assist in apprehending the criminals.

Simons confirmed that the incidents do appear to occur in “waves�. He said that a group will learn what they can get away with and continue to pillage until they are caught, then another group will mimic the pattern and the cycle will repeat itself.

Simons also noted that new equipment will be installed along the border soon, but would not divulge on exactly what was being done because he doesn’t want the crooks to find out.

Turuda said the thieves would take, or attempt to take, anything they could, even the family’s pet dog.

Oh my God...what were they going to do with the dog?

Maybe they wanted it for dinner.

Yep....just what I was thinking.

And, we want this "ilk" in our country?

Our leaders are insane.

How is stealing wanting a better life? I'm so tired of hearing that crap....and all of the other bs that supporters of these illegals have to say.





Ressie

It has long been known that the Mexicans can steal your socks without first removing your shoes. Theft is a way of life...it isn't WRONG...it's merely condoned, winked at.

We had leased some land on our west side to an American of Mexican descent to run his cattle....he consistently stole the $5 salt blocks our of our pastures. He was not allowed to lease here again. Much to his displeasure.

RR