by | Published
Buda, TX — A San Antonio man was arrested earlier this month after investigators linked him to a vehicle burglary and unauthorized credit card purchases in the Garlic Creek subdivision.
According to the Buda Police Department, officers took a report on the morning of February 23 regarding a burglary of a vehicle in the neighborhood. The victim noticed unauthorized purchases on their credit card and later discovered their purse had been stolen from their vehicle.
The case was forwarded to the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Detectives were able to identify the suspect using surveillance footage from stores where the stolen credit card had been used.
Investigators also confirmed the suspect’s identity through a recent interaction with patrol officers in which he identified himself. Police said the same vehicle used by the suspect at the stores was also captured by the Flock Safety camera system in the Garlic Creek neighborhood.
Authorities later obtained three arrest warrants for 35-year-old James Alexander Sciano of San Antonio.
On March 3, 2026, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office received a Flock Safety vehicle alert indicating Sciano’s vehicle had been detected in the area. Deputies soon stopped the vehicle at FM 1626 and RM 967 in Buda.
Sciano was taken into custody by Hays County Sheriff’s Office deputies. In addition to Buda Police Department’s three warrants, he also had an active warrant from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office for burglarizing a vehicle. Deputies also charged him after finding several identifying documents in the vehicle that did not belong to him.
As of the latest update, Sciano remains in the Hays County Jail with a total bond set at $17,000.
He faces multiple charges, including Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse, Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information involving fewer than five items, two counts of Burglary of Vehicles, and Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information involving 10 to 50 items.
Police credited Corporal Lopasky and Detective Martinez for conducting the investigation. Authorities also thanked the Hays County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, and Communications Division for their assistance.
Investigators also acknowledged the Walmart San Marcos Loss Prevention Team for providing surveillance footage and the Garlic Creek HOA for participating in the Flock Safety program.
Police reminded residents to lock their vehicles, remove valuables, and hide any items that cannot be taken out of the car to help prevent vehicle burglaries.
