home invasion in west Phoenix

According to Phoenix police Detective James Holmes, four Hispanic males forced entry into a home near Indian School Road and 59th Avenue at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The suspects reportedly demanded money and weapons.

Holmes said the victims were bound with duct tape.

The suspects left with the victims' 2007 gray Chevrolet SUV. The vehicle has been recovered.

The investigation is continuing.

UA Student Shoots 2 Men Who Broke Into Home

The student armed himself with a handgun and shot them both, then called police. The men were dead when police arrived.

A University of Arizona student fatally shot two men who forced their way into his off-campus home early Thursday, Tucson police said.

The 23-year-old student was in the small backyard guest house where he lived several blocks north of the university about 12:30 a.m. when two men in their 20s came to the door and forced their way in, police spokesman Sgt. Fabian Pacheco said. The student armed himself with a handgun and shot them both, then called police.

The men were dead when police arrived.

The student didn't know the suspects and there is no indication he was involved in any criminal activity that could have made him a target for the suspects, Pacheco said.

"It could be that they went to the wrong residence - or they went to the right residence but were looking for someone who lived there before,'' Pacheco said. "The victim has only lived there for a few months.''

The student is cooperating with detectives, who are making sure his statements match up with evidence at the scene, Pacheco said. But there's nothing to indicate he did anything wrong.

"All indications are that this is a home invasion,'' Pacheco said. "These individuals forced their way into his home, and he is a gun owner, felt his life was in danger and fired at these suspects.''

One of the dead men has been tentatively identified, but police haven't released the identities of either the suspects or the student.

Great job! Do not let these low life's control you and your lifestyle. Protect yourself, your family and your home from scum like these two home invasion losers. In this economy you have to expect a rise in this type of crime and the police are always to busy to get there in time.

Break-in leaves 1 dead, 1 arrested

One man is dead and another faces one count of first-degree murder in an overnight home break-in, police said Sunday.

The name of the 51-year-old victim has not yet been released.

Police arrested Paul Wegele, 31, who was found hiding in a bedroom.

Officers responded to a 911 call around 12:38 a.m. at a home in the 6900 block of E. Wethersfield Road.

The communications operator heard sounds, but could not make contact with the caller, said Sgt. Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix Police Department.

Arriving officers said they saw someone walking around inside the home, but he would not open the door when police knocked.

Officers said they found the carport door to the home had been forced open, Thompson said. They entered the home and found the man's body and Wegele, who was in a bedroom.

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.