Burglary

New Information on Alexander Wilson, Boy Shot by DPS Officer

A look at court and police records shows a fuller portrait of Alexander Wilson, a kid shot by a DPS officer more than a week ago at a West Phoenix Chevron gas station.  A press release sent to Valley news media says Wilson was wanted on a warrant for armed robbery but did not use a weapon to co ... More >>

Aaron Smith, Ex-Tempe Cop, Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Police Department

Aaron Smith, a former Tempe patrol officer who decided to steal from a building full of cops -- the police department -- has pleaded guilty to a theft charge.Smith, who was caught taking some cash, bikes, and a GPS unit that didn't even work, told his fellow officers that he was suffering from "extr ... More >>

Teenager Dead After Friend Plays Around With Gun They Stole in a Home Burglary

A 17-year-old was shot and killed yesterday after he and his friends burglarized a neighbor's home in Tolleson, according to Phoenix police.The fatal shot was delivered from the homeowner's gun, but It wasn't the homeowner who shot the boy -- police say a 15-year-old girl who helped burglarize the n ... More >>

Michael Tolley Loves Purses -- Enough to Break Into 17 Houses to Steal Them, Cops Say

Tempe resident Michael Tolley loves purses so much that he allegedly broke into 17 houses in his own neighborhood to steal them.Maybe its not the actual purses he loves, but the meth- and heroin-money he got from his alleged purse-stealing spree.

Tempe's Naked Burglary Couple Couldn't Get Their Stories Straight, According to Records

The Tempe men who were arrested after driving around completely naked together after allegedly breaking into a man's car couldn't seem to get their stories straight when talking to police Monday morning.While Anthony Gammon told a story consistent with Tempe PD's recollection, his partner Alberto Ro ... More >>

Anthony Richards Allegedly Broke Into Chinese Restaurant, Stole Nothing but Ice Cream

A Mesa man allegedly broke into a Chinese restaurant through a glass door, hopped over the counter, and stole...ice cream.According to information from Mesa police, a witness saw the break-in happen, and an officer arrived at the Big Bowl Chinese restaurant as Anthony James Lee Richards was on his w ... More >>

Kilian Hale Allegedly Burglarized Some Houses This Summer -- "At Least" 42, MCSO Says

A man described as a bush-league version of the "Rock Burglar" is probably responsible for "at least" 42 burglaries that occurred in the Valley this summer, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.Kilian Hale -- a 50-year-old guy who lives with his mommy in Sun Lakes -- is accused of makin ... More >>

Teenager Breaks Into Tolleson Cop's House; You Betcha, That Kid Got Shot

Residential burglary is a slightly safer activity than Russian roulette, but sooner or later, burglars are bound to run into someone with a gun who does not take kindly to scumbags in his house.One of those types would be cops, who all have guns, and aren't too sympathetic toward crime.A 17-year-old ... More >>

Jason Draper, Accused of Stealing From 25 Walmart Stores, Says He Steals Because He's "Humiliated" Living With His Mom at Age 35

If you're "desperate and humiliated" because you're 35 years old and living with your mother, getting caught stealing more than $45,000 worth of merchandise from 25 different Walmart stores probably won't remedy that.Still, that's what police are saying Jason Dee Draper did to land him in jail on 28 ... More >>

Michael Crane Indicted in Murders of Paradise Valley Couple And Bruce Gadet

​A grand jury indicted the six suspects arrested in connection with both the murder of Paradise Valley couple Glenna and Lawrence Shapiro, as well as Bruce Gaudet's murder in Phoenix last month.Michael Crane was charged with the first-degree murder of the Schapiros, as well as Gaudet.That grand ju ... More >>

Death of MCSO Deputy Bill Coleman: Should Alleged Burglars Be Charged With Murder?

​Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced yesterday that two men have been arrested for allegedly breaking into the Anthem medical facility where MCSO Deputy Bill Coleman was murdered earlier this month by 30-year-old "UFO-ologist" Drew Ryan Maras, who was sleeping in the parking lot and likel ... More >>

MCSO Deputy Bill Coleman Murder: Burglary Suspects Arrested

MCSODeputy Bill Coleman was murdered on January 8, when he and other deputies responded to a burglary call in Anthem.​In what Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio insists was "not a news conference," the MCSO announced this afternoon that two men who allegedly burglarized the business where Deputy B ... More >>

Thieves Burglarize Same Pawn Shop Twice in Five Hours; Make Off With Nearly 50 Guns

​Roughly 50 guns were stolen from a San Tan Valley pawn shop early yesterday morning in two separate burglaries. Now authorities want your help in tracking down the alleged thieves.The Pinal County Sheriff's Office says deputies were called to the Perfect Pawn and Jewelery pawn shop at 40975 North ... More >>

Meet Brandi Farnberg -- the Hottest Alleged Car Thief in the Valley *UPDATED*

MCSOBrandi Farnberg's not a bad lookin' woman. She's also an alleged car thief.​Sorry, gentlemen, according to her Facebook page, Brandi Farnberg, 23, is in a relationship. According to police, she's also an alleged car thief with aliases like "Sabrina Angelo," "Brandy Torres," and "Kacey Whitmore ... More >>

Walmart Employees Steal Cash From Store to Fund Sex-Change Operation, Toyota Supra

The Daily CourierSpencer Cullen stole money from Wal-Mart to pay for a sex-change operation.​Spencer Danger Cullen, 23, was born with a penis -- and he's apparently so determined to get rid of it that he and a friend burglarized the Walmart where the two worked in order to come up with the cash to ... More >>

Punks Target 71-Year-Old Medical Marijuana Applicant for Burglary Attempt. Victim Only Had Small Amount of Weed

​A 71-year-old Phoenix man recently applied for a medical-marijuana card -- which apparently was all it took to make him a target for a few punks looking to steal some medical weed.According to the Phoenix Police Department, about 5:30 p.m. yesterday, a neighbor of the victim's called 9-1-1 to ... More >>

Rock Burglar Suspect Arrested

​What's a great way to divert attention from the fact that Mexican drug cartels have infiltrated the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office? Announcing the arrest of an infamous criminal who's been able to evade capture for 17 years certainly doesn't hurt. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County A ... More >>

"Rock Burglar" Identified as 58-year-old Robert James Neese

Alleged "Rock Burglar" Robert James Neese​According to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the man infamously known as the "Rock Burglar" is 58-year-old Robert James Neese.Neese was arrested this morning at a restaurant in south Phoenix.Arpaio says DNA evidence links Neese to some of the burglarie ... More >>

Beer Thief Stabs Would-Be Hero During Heineken Heist

If you know this guy, call the cops.​The Peoria Police Department needs the public's help in tracking down a man they say stole a few Heinekens from a Circle K convenience store last night.According to police, the thief stole two 12-packs of Heineken from a Circle K near 87th Avenue and Bell Road. ... More >>

Mesa Burglary Foiled After Suspect Gets Stuck in Clothes Hamper

MCSOMichael Kristopher Trias​Police say a man broke into a Mesa apartment Thursday morning, only to have his burglary plan hampered by getting caught in a clothes hamper. Mesa police Detective Mike Melendez tells New Times that a 45-year-old man was in the bathroom of his apartment, on the 300 bl ... More >>

Worst Guard Dog Ever: Pooch Stolen During Phoenix Burglary Returned to Owner

Lexy: the worst guard dog ever.​Phoenix resident Mike Aley is the proud owner of a 4-year-old Staffordshire Terrier named Lexy, who happens to be one of the worst guard dogs in the entire world.On February 24, Aley's house near 64th and Voltaire streets was burglarized. The thieves, Aley tells New ... More >>

Grape Thief Busted for Three Tempe Burglaries

blippitt.com​Hide your kids, hide your wife, and hide your grapes.Tempe police arrested a 17-year-old Phoenix kid suspected of a burglary on Friday afternoon -- as he sat eating the same grapes he'd stolen from a house he allegedly broke into.

ASU Police Records Show Expensive, Odd Things Stolen From University

No official word on whether Sparky ended up stealing this computer.​What do 100 high-end computer CPUs, $1,660 worth of toilet paper, and a box of brownies have in common? They used to be property of Arizona State University - that is - until they were stolen. And those are just three of the 136 ... More >>

Burglary Fail: Mesa Thief Arrested for Botched Burglary After Getaway Car Wouldn't Start

www.aaa.com​Sometimes you just don't have time to call AAA -- for example, if you're in the process of burglarizing a house, someone sees you, and your getaway car won't start -- which is exactly what happened to a pair of thieves in Mesa yesterday morning.According to the Mesa Police D ... More >>

Man Driving Stolen Car Stopped by DPS -- So He Punched Officer in Face and Stole Patrol Car; Suspect Still Loose

​A man driving a stolen car was stopped by a Department of Public Safety officer this afternoon. Apparently not happy he was about to go down for allegedly stealing a car, during the arrest, he punched the officer in the face and stole his car, too.DPS spokesman Bart Graves tells New Times that ea ... More >>

Pinal County Man Breaks Into Same House Twice in as Many Days

Albert Graham​A Pinal County man (who happens to look a lot like Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu) apparently wasn't satisfied with the stuff he stole from a woman's house during one burglary, so he burglarized the same exact house the very next day.According to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, o ... More >>

Burrito Thief/ Suspect in Utah Cop Murder Busted Just North of Arizona/ Utah Border

Scott Curley​When we first got word Friday morning that the 23-year-old suspect in the murder of a Utah police officer was hiding out in a six-square-mile section of the Arizona desert we figured he'd be in custody before lunch.Despite hundreds of cops swarming the area, that suspect, Scott Curley ... More >>

Suspect Identified in Utah Deputy Murder; Shooting Apparently Over Stolen Burritos

Scott Curley​The hunt is on for the man authorities believe shot and killed a Utah Sheriff's Deputy yesterday.Kane County, Utah, Sheriff's Deputy Brian Harris was killed as he was chasing a burglary suspect three miles east of Fredonia. Police have identified a suspect in the case as 23-year-old S ... More >>

Dude Burglarizes Store and Gets Caught Holding Cash Register -- and a Bike he Stole the Day Before

Honandez Simmons​There's a new candidate for the world's dumbest, alleged criminal: 37-year-old Honandez Simmons.Simmons was arrested early this morning after he was found in the parking lot of a Mesa shopping center picking up change.Picking up change in a parking lot is not illegal, as far as we ... More >>

Family of Circle K Beer Thieves Busted by Tempe Police; Traded Stolen Beer for Meth, Cops Say

Tempe Police Department Antonio Tavena faces 45 felony charges for his role in the thefts.​A family of "brazen" beer thieves' reign of terror over Tempe Circle K convenience stores has come to an end.The alleged thieves, Antonio Coronado Tavena, 34, Elizabeth Tavena, 30, Manuel Tavena, 23, ... More >>

Wayne Gretzky Jersey Stolen by California Man; Suspect Arrested Actually Wearing Jersey

www.orchidparkccc.com The Great One​A California man faces felony theft charges after allegedly stealing a hockey jersey autographed by The Great One himself from a sports bar in North Dakota. Authorities in North Dakota say 33-year-old Mark Stevens got drunk and swiped an Edmont ... More >>

Phoenix Thieves Targeted Identities of Elderly; Police Looking for Victims

George Gregg​The Phoenix Police Department is asking the public's help in tracking down victims of a pair of thieves, who police say targeted elderly victims across the Valley.Last month, police arrested 30-year-old George Gregg and 60-year-old David Gregg on several charges of theft and bur ... More >>

Copper Thief Falls Through Ceiling at Phoenix Elementary School; Said to Have "Life-Threatening Injuries"

www.hilaryshepard.com​ In what teacher Alex Chambers describes as actions leading to the ultimate failing grade for breaking and entering, an alleged copper thief is in critical condition after falling through the ceiling at Bret Tarver Elementary School in Phoenix. Teachers at th ... More >>

Robbers Steal the Ashes of a Peoria Family's Dead Son

www.psychologytoday.com​Peoria police are looking for the person or person responsible for robbing the home of a Peoria family. On the list of missing items: The ashes of the family's dead son. Lindsay Grannis, the child's mother, says when she came home yesterday afternoon, her garage door ... More >>

Crime in Mesa Drops Considerably; And Just Last Week Mesa PD Said It Couldn't Enforce DUI Laws

www.theblueline.com​The Mesa Police Department announced Wednesday that the city has seen the greatest reduction in crime since 1963. According to police, among other declines, there has been a 39 percent drop in auto theft and 31 percent decrease in homicides.

Hot Links: Standoffs, Ripoffs, and Blackouts

​A Yuma man is in custody after an almost nine-hour standoff with police. Michael McCormick was wanted in connection with several vehicle thefts and burglaries. When police tracked him to a motel, he fled and broke into a trailer home, where the standoff ensued. He eventually surrendered and was t ... More >>

Phoenix Auto Thefts Down 33 Percent

www.mobilesyrup.com​If you're like many of us and missed the federal government's generous "Cash for Clunkers" deadline, you may have been hoping someone would steal your dumpy old Chrysler so you can collect a little insurance money. In the past, parking your car in certain Phoe ... More >>

Auto Theft Down in Phoenix and Tucson; Arizona DPS Takes Credit

Roger Vanderpool, DPS Director The Arizona Department of Public Safety is taking credit for a decrease in auto thefts in Phoenix and Tucson, saying a smorgasbord of enforcement efforts made the difference. Referring to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau that show no Arizona city i ... More >>

Pizza Fusion Burglarized After Fundraiser for Local Family

It can't all be appetizing news. Today's big story is downright nauseating. The fundraiser that Mesa's new Pizza Fusion restaurant held in conjunction with its grand opening -- which was intended to help Frank and Tracy Smith, who were seriously injured in a car accident that killed their two young ... More >>

Red-Light Camera Helps Stick It to Suspected Motorcycle Thief

One in a blue moon, photo enforcement cameras do something other than make a profit off of momentarily careless drivers like Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. One Phoenix red-light camera helped nab a suspected motorcycle thief recently, says the Arizona Department of Public Safety.  

Who's A-Frayed?

Criminal Intent

Enemies List

Arpaio haters, perceived and otherwise, beware! Looks like Joe's up to his old tricks

Car Theft by the Numbers

An Ax to Find

Rehearsal-room burglary leaves two bands short of at least $12,000 worth of equipment

Serious Withdrawal

Late-night robberies. High-tech heists. Coercions, confessions and cover-ups. It's just business as usual at a Phoenix ATM company.

The Life and Crimes of Andrew Forkes

A 93-year-old career criminal looks back in danger

Targets Beyond The Turf

Will you be next in the line of gang fire?

Untitled

The whereabouts of a stolen vehicle are known, but the original owner can't get it back

BRIAN KINGMAN'S BLUE PERIOD

THE FORMER OAKLAND A'S PITCHER GOT ENTANGLED IN THE THEFT OF A MILLION-DOLLAR PICASSO. EXCEPT IT WASN'T A PICASSO.