Sierra Vista police warn of vehicle thefts

By Derek Jordan
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Saturday, Nov 01, 2008 - 05:23:54 am MST

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SIERRA VISTA — Police are urging drivers who own Dodge Ram pickup trucks to take extra steps to secure them, as five of the vehicles have been reported stolen in the past 10 days.

“From the 22nd to the 31st there have been five Dodge Ram pickups stolen,” said Sgt. Lawrence Boutte of the Sierra Vista Police Department.

Boutte said the pattern indicates the thefts are being done by a group of people or were ordered by a group.

A total of 10 vehicles were reported stolen to the Sierra Vista Police Department in October, up from six in September, Boutte said.

“Most of them were on the east side of town,” he said.

Four of the five Dodge Rams reported stolen were parked in the driveways of homes, he said.

Though he could not say for certain why these particular vehicles were stolen, Boutte said that in most cases, trucks of those kinds were often used to smuggle drugs or people in from Mexico.

“Whenever you have something like that it’s usually related to border issues,” he said.

The best thing for drivers to do is secure their vehicles in a garage if they have the option, Boutte said. Otherwise, a number of security devices are encouraged.

“Security alarms are one of the biggest things,” he said. “Anything that makes noise. Any type of steering wheel locking device.”

He also urged drivers to keep their vehicles locked and to never keep spare keys hidden inside their car.

“They know where to look for those things and they will look for them,” he said.

DEREK JORDAN can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at derek.jordan@svherald.com.

WHERE TO CALL

If you have information on the vehicle thefts, call the Sierra Vista Police Department at 452-7500.

ON THE NET

• Arizona Automobile Theft Authority: www.azwatchyourcar.com

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Elite wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:42 AM:

" Why is that American minorites are the only ones called by their orign? When you see a white guy you don't say there goes that Irish guy, or European guy. I always hear hispanic's realted to as Mexicans, or Asian's refered to as Chinese. When in fact the term's relate to a variety sub-cultures. Hispanic could be a Mexican,Spainard,Columbian any number of cultures. I myself am an American with Mexican/Apache Hertiage. I was here first in both aspects of my herity. I hope it was a mexican that stole your car. What goes around comes around. "

why n wrote wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:28 AM:

" Surly....is that a word, if it is, is it used in the right context. Thanks for the comment on my comment, how do you feel about the issue at hand though. I just ment, that's not the major issue at hand. The majority of our community is hispanic, no big deal, who cares. And, am I missing something? It only says they suspect they are using them for smuggling MEXICANS FROM MEXICO. People from Mexico are stilled called Mexican......right? I like to refer to myself as a United States of American, but just American for short. "

n wrote on Nov 4, 2008 8:55 AM:

" To Why Why,
What is your point? The person has a valid question there was no need for you to be surly. "

Wonderer wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:20 AM:

" The chief not enforcing certain laws sure does have something to do with this. I doubt that the Dodge Rams are being stolen to go to work at the fort.
And Mexican is not a race, in fact many Mexicans consider themselves Caucasians. Which is peoples of European descent with light colored skin pigmentation. "

Why Why wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:26 AM:

" They could be black, they could be yellow, they could be purple with tiny black spots all over them. "

Why must it be one race wrote on Nov 3, 2008 7:40 AM:

" Does it state anywhere in this article the race of the group, why must it be assumed that this group Mexican? They could be white. "

To Wonderer wrote on Nov 2, 2008 1:54 PM:

" What does that have to do with this article? I swear, just shut up already. If you don't like it, run for office or write a letter to the editor. "

JP Dodge owner wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:09 PM:

" I now know that I live on the "east" side of town. At 3:12AM I was awaken by my truck's alarm, I went out to greet my guest(s) but sadly they had left without saying "goodbye". The only obvious entry was the key lock, as it freely spun in the cylinder and a fresh set of finger "Marks" were visable on the driver's door. "

Wonderer wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:13 PM:

" Why doesn't the spokesman for the SVPD, tell us why the SVPD has a policy of not questioning the illegals status, as most police departments do? "

JP Dodge owner wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:58 PM:

" What is considered the "east side" of town? Wouldn't that be the majority of town or is there a new dividing line I wonder. "

curious wrote on Nov 1, 2008 5:06 PM:

" I had a Dodge Ram 1500 stolen 2 days after I purchased it in 1998. I wanted the guys on Fry to do the Alarm System. Well, it was headed to Mexico but the Nogalas PD nabbed them after a high speed chase. Repairs cost me $3,600. All they did was drill a hole beside the door lock on the outside, pushed up with an ice pick. Got in the truck, broke of the little plastic part by the ignition and used a screw driver to start it. "

To Anon wrote on Nov 1, 2008 2:34 PM:

" Gee, you are so smart! Did you read the article??? It says: "Boutte said that in most cases, trucks of those kinds were often used to smuggle drugs or people in from Mexico" He already said that. You are an idiot for not reading the article and then post a stupid comment like that. Good going Captain Obvious, appreciate the deep thought and insight. "

Enforcer wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:11 AM:

" This is what happens when the chief tells his officers, not to ask someones citizenship when they come into contact with them. Leaving the illegals free to scout for trucks to steal. "

Just feed and water the Bush People wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:28 AM:

" Jen Allen and the open border crew would like us to give these fine, human, drug and sex-slave traders food and water. After all Border Action Network could just set up a memorial to remind us that thieves using our vehicles for their business purposes are good people. We should just be loving to them and hand over keys to our vehicles, allow our children to purchase their goods and services, allow our young grandchildren to be exposed to their products such as methamphetamine. By all means do no hurt their little feelings or hinder their business practices. "

Anon wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:09 AM:

" Wonder who is stealing big trucks like that? Can you say Mexican drug runners and alien smugglers? "