This program was started on December 1, 2011 with the main focus to deter burglaries, thefts and stolen vehicles while also being a visible presence in the Desert Ridge community.
Your Garage Door
Officers working in the community have noticed numerous open garages. We see anywhere from 12 to 15 open garages a day. We do stop and make contact with residents and inform them of the open garage. Most were unaware that the garage door was open but some knew it was open. It only takes a thief less than a minute to walk up the driveway and into your open garage, taking bikes, golf clubs or any other valuable items left in the garage or in the car in the garage, such as purses, wallets, jewelry, checks, etc., or even worse, enter your house if the door is unlocked. There were even a couple instances of unoccupied vehicles running while the resident was inside.
Please make sure that garage doors are kept closed.
This will show any potential thieves who may come into the area, that there are not any easy targets.
Neighborhood Crime
There is very good news to relay directly related to the work of the off duty patrol officers and the open communication from the established Block Watches. It is known to many Desert Ridge residents that there has been several burglaries occurring since the late summer or early fall. In response to this, several neighborhoods have gotten active and started a Block Watch or reinvigorated an old one and also started communicating with each other and also with me.
As a result of this communication, a vehicle that had been seen in the area of numerous burglaries but had left before we could arrive was seen by a watchful neighbor. Due to this communication and some luck, the information on the vehicle and its last known location was instrumental in the Phoenix Police Department apprehending the burglar in the act, including some assistance from the off duty officer from Desert Ridge.
This person is being investigated for several burglaries and as of today has been charged with at least four more in addition to the charges from the arrest of that day. All burglaries from the area are being thoroughly investigated but unless the evidence can connect this person to a particular burglary that case might never be cleared or the property recovered. We are doing everything we can to ensure this person is charged, convicted and ultimately sentenced to the maximum for these charges. We will not be releasing any names or photos since that might jeopardize any current investigations.
Vacation Watches
If you are going to be away from your home for vacation or any other extended period of time or you are a winter visitor, officers can check your house on a random basis to see if it is secure. Please call the Black Mountain Precinct at 602-495-5002 and request a “vacation watch”. If you call after hours, please leave your name and contact number for the desk aide to return your call and to get the required information.
We will check your home on a random basis; log when we were there and if we find something unusual, unsecured or broken, we will contact you or whomever you designate as a contact.
In Conclusion
Keep in mind that more than likely, there is more than just one burglar working in the Desert Ridge area. While we are glad that we caught one there are many more out there, so we all must continue to be watchful of what is occurring in our neighborhoods. I will continue to update all the residents of the Desert Ridge community on all aspects of this new program in addition to the regular communication on other events or programs in the area. I look forward to continuing to improve the City of Phoenix’s neighborhoods so that we all may enjoy a great quality of life.
If anyone wishes to contact me on this program, start a Block Watch or on any other issue, please feel free to contact me at tim.mitten@phoenix.gov or at 602-495-5238.
Please 911 for emergencies or Crime Stop at 602-262-6151, for non-emergency assistance, to have officers dispatched out to their residence.
Thank you!
