PVCC Puma Press: November 2004

In the suburbs of north Phoenix at the intersection of Cave Creek and Deer Valley roads a neighborhood is under siege by way of a slew of car thefts and vandalism that has both shaken and united a community.
Fed up neighbors met for a Block Watch meeting Sept. 30 at Boulder Creek Elementary School to discuss their concerns with Community Action Officer Chris Taylor of the Phoenix Police Department. and William Hardy, aide to City Council woman Peggy Neely.

According to the latest statistics provided by the Phoenix Police there have been 16 incidents of property crime reported between January and July of 2004. Several more thefts and acts of vandalism have occurred since then. Most recently a neighborhood woman complained of having a family pick-up truck stolen less than a week before the meeting.
Heather (last name withheld) says that the same vehicle had been broken into twice before it was finally taken.

“(We’ve had) five cars stolen from our cul-de-sac within the past few months,” says Lisa Martin, organizer of the Block Watch. Martin says that she had two cars stolen two weeks apart this past August. Along with most of the neighbors at the meeting, she feels the area needs more patrol.

“Help us, we need Block Watches,” says Taylor, a 7-year veteran with the Phoenix P.D.

Block Watch is a program that coordinates members of communities with local police precincts to reduce crime. Individuals are urged to be aware of and report any unusual activities in their neighborhood.

Taylor says the Desert Horizon Precinct is responsible for everything from Interstate 17 to Scottsdale Road and Northern Avenue to Carefree Highway. Only six to eight officers a night patrol the 63-squad area. That area is “bigger than most cities in Arizona,” Taylor says.

This could explain the poor response from police that 18 to 20 neighbors complained about.

One incident in particular was described in which a car alarm of an out-of-town neighbor went off Labor Day night and the police failed to respond after being contacted. The dispatcher said since nobody was home, an officer would not be sent out. The next morning, two other cars were found with windows smashed out and radios stolen.

“I want to apologize for past events,” says Taylor referring to this and other similar incidents. Taylor went on to assure everyone that everything that could be done was being done. He says, “(Block Watches) can do a world of difference.”

Taylor and Mr. Hardy distributed flyers that described the on going problem in Arizona. Nearly half of all stolen vehicles are left unlocked, 20 percent have the keys left inside them, most stolen vehicles do not have an anti-theft device and most stolen cars are used to commit other crimes.

Residents seeking information on crime prevention tips and presentations in the Desert Horizon Precinct area may contact the police at 602-495-5006.