Five in custody in early morning Arizona home invasions

Five suspects are in custody after a pair of home invasions that took place early this morning. One suspect stabbed was stabbed.

It happened shortly after 3:30 a.m. in the neighborhood of 15th Avenue and Alta Vista, which is just south of Southern Avenue.

The investigation revealed the suspects knocked on the homeowner's door and after the door opened the suspects displayed their weapons and began making demands. A fight then broke out between the homeowner and the suspects.

According to Lt. Greg Berghorst of the Phoenix Police Department, officers on the scene recovered a variety of weapons, including two semi-automatic handguns and a shotgun. Police said that in trying to elude officers, the suspects broke into a third home.

There were seven people, including small children inside the first home that was broken into. Police, who were initally responding to a check welfare call, arrested a man and a woman there. Three other suspects, all of whom were armed, ran out the back door and got away, Berghorst said.

Officers set up a perimeter and called for backup. Air units and K9 units responded and those three were caught.

While one of the suspects was stabbed -- it's not clear how he was wounded -- none of the families who live in the homes were hurt.

Police do not know what the suspects were after when they broke into the first two houses. Investigators are trying to determine if the suspects are involved in any other criminal activity.

A sign of the times? Maybe...but I say everyone should have some form of protection in their homes! With the economy so terrible, I feel we shall see more of this type of crime. Sadly, the police are always under staffed and have so much to deal with.