tough economic times driving more to commit crimes

In these tough financial times, some people are just taking what they want and using a gun to do it.

Now Valley police are on the hunt for some brazen robbers who they consider armed and dangerous. Police say they cannot connect the economy and crime but one is down and the other is up. Investigators are calling it a cold and calculated crime and one that could soon be in stores near you.

At a 7/11 on 24th Street and Thomas two weeks ago, a man put a gun to a clerk's head. The entire thing was caught on surveillance. After the gunman emptied the register, he squeezed the trigger.

Sergeant Paul Penzone says the Valley's Silent Witness Program is working more robberies than ever. While some theorize that a weak economy can push people to the point of pointing a gun, Penzone says that is a hard case to qualify, but not out of the question.

While robbers have targeted everything from convenience stores to fast food joints, in the last two weeks at least four banks in the Valley have also been hit.

According to the FBI, last year Arizona ranked 14^th in bank robberies nationwide. In the first six months of this year, the state has climbed to 10^th place.

Penzone says part of the reason is more there are more people and more banks. While tough times may make for desperate criminals, some say there is a better chance than ever they will be caught.

Study shows 22% of 2007 Felonies Caused by Illegals

Arizona taxpayers shell out $114 million annually to cover the cost of incarcerating them.

A new study from the Maricopa County Attorney is showing that illegal immigrants are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime.

Data used in the report wasn't gathered until the passage of Prop 100 two years-ago.

The voter-approved law denies bail to those in the country illegally accused of a class 4 felony or above.

The study concluded that nine percent of Arizona's population is in the country illegally, yet nearly 22 percent of felonies sentenced in Maricopa County are committed by illegal immigrants.

Arizona taxpayers shell out $114 million annually to cover the cost of incarcerating them.

Read the whole story at this link

More violence in Avondale, Arizona

The incident happened near 107th Ave. and Buckeye Rd.
Police have arrested a suspect.

An Avondale, Arizona shooting left one teen dead and three others injured, according to police.

The incident happened near 107th Ave. and Buckeye Rd.

Although details are sketchy at this time, police said one male has been arrested and they are not looking for any other suspects.

Thieves stealing catalytic converters in Arizona on the rise

Police say thieves are stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in Arizona and Toyotas are being targeted the most. Crooks are stealing the converters because of the three rare metals found inside -- platinum, rhodium and palladium.

Police say crooks can remove a converter in less than 90 seconds and warned that thefts can happen even while victims are in restaurants, at the movies or shopping. Since the middle of March, Peoria police say approximately 87 catalytic converters have been taken, including 34 from Younger Brothers Construction on Grand Avenue between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25.

In Peoria, 80 percent of vehicles hit are Toyotas with Tacoma being the most targeted. Police say vehicle models between 1995 and 2001 appear to be targeted more often.

Converter thieves slip under vehicles and with a battery-powered saw, cut through the exhaust pipe or use a ratchet to unfasten the bolts and unscrew the converter.

Metal recycling companies pay anywhere from $25 to $150 apiece for converters. Replacement costs for the victim can run upward of $1,300.

Police say to prevent these thefts, try not to park your vehicle in the driveway of your home or on the street. If you see vehicles cruising your neighborhood or parking lots or people under vehicles in parking lots, call the police.

This is also happening in Avondale. Many people have been getting their catalytic converters stolen. I don't know enough about recycling centers, but why are these places not taking down drivers license's or some other form of documentation so that they can spot someone who brings a lot of these things like he stole them? I know there are ways to get around every type of crime prevention, but I doing this would help put a small dent in the criminal activity.

How sad to think that we cannot park our cars in our own driveway these days without some jerk damaging it. Maybe if the courts would have stronger penalties for doing crap like this things would settle down some.

Terrence Kasses Washington AMW profile link

Terrence Kasses Washington AMW profile link

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.

UPDATE on the MCSO crime sweep in Cave Creek

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit (Triple I), is continuing its crime suppression operation today in the Town of Cave Creek in and around the Good Shepherd of the Hills Church. This, after yesterday’s operation stats totaled 19 people arrested and taken into custody, 18 of whom were determined to be illegal aliens. One of those arrested yesterday was a male prostitute wanted on a felony warrant for identity theft.

This is the second day of this operation which comes as a result of a plea from citizens in Cave Creek, voicing their complaints and concerns about day laborer and illegal alien activity in the town.

Recently a federal court shot down an ordinance which would have loitering or soliciting work from a roadway illegal.

Arpaio says, “These people are foolish if they think the Sheriff’s Office is going to be dissuaded from enforcing the law just because the city does not have this ordinance in place.”

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Earlier story:

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Joe Arpaio’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit (Triple I), Tuesday responded to complaints from Cave Creek citizens regarding day laborer problems at the Good Shepherd of the Hills Church.

The Triple I team arrested 18 illegal aliens under state and federal immigration laws in Tuesday’s operation. While the day laborer problems in Cave Creek have continually been enforced by deputies, this time citizen complaints came in reference day laborer and illegal alien activity near the Carefree Highway.

In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in the number of arrests made for human smuggling/load vehicles in the area of Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway. In response to that activity, the Sheriff’s Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit did a saturation patrol in the Cave Creek area beginning early Tuesday morning.

In a matter of five hours, deputies conducted 81 interviews, in the process of making 59 traffic violation stops. During those traffic stops, 19 people were arrested and taken into custody, including the 18 illegal aliens.

“Every crime suppression operation shows us the immigration problem in Maricopa County is pervasive and our next stop is Mesa,” says Sheriff Arpaio.

The Sheriff’s Office has conducted several crime suppression operations this year resulting in a total of 193 arrests; and 77 warrants were cleared.

Of the 193 people arrested, 107 were determined to be illegal aliens.