First arrests made after string of car break-ins

Maricopa Police Department has made its first arrests in a string of car burglaries that plagued the Maricopa Meadows and Desert Passage neighborhoods all month.

InMaricopa published several reports between Feb. 3 and 19 about a suspected gang of hooligans — who sometimes donned creepy clown masks — and questioned if at least a dozen news tips we received about car break-ins during that span were tied to the same suspects.

An MPD investigation this week revealed a link between these incidents, leading to the arrests of two teenagers in possession of several items reported as stolen in recent car burglaries.

MPD did not release the names of the two teenagers who were arrested.

Victims believed the sticky-fingered youths were looking for firearms, as they rummaged through glove boxes and center consoles but at times left $50 on the floor, according to security footage victims provided InMaricopa.

After its own review of the surveillance footage, MPD concluded there was “a discernable pattern” among the teens arrested in which they “targeted unlocked vehicles.”

MPD wants to help the public avoid becoming the next victim of car burglary. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself, the department says.

“When doors are locked and there are no items of interest visible to the individuals, suspects often move on without further incident,” MPD Chief Mark Goodman said. “While the suspects are certainly at fault for their actions, this also serves as a good reminder of the preventative measure you can take to protect yourself and your belongings.”

MPD urges residents to follow these essential safety precautions:

1. Ensure you lock your car when going inside.
2. Park in well-lit areas or install a motion-activated light.
3. Never leave firearms in unoccupied vehicles.
4. Remove any valuables from the vehicle, including debit cards and papers with sensitive information.

“Community policing is pivotal in this endeavor,” Goodman said. “We urge anyone with information or who notices suspicious activity to come forward, as together, we work to keep Maricopa one of the safest cities in the state of Arizona.”

And that’s the good news — two Halloween-masked teen burglars can’t steal Maricopa’s title as the second-safest city in Arizona.

Anyone with information to share can contact MPD’s non-emergency line at 520-568-3673.