Most criminals are opportunists and look for easy victims. Several things that you can do to minimize your risk of having your vehicle broken into are:

•    NEVER leave the keys in your vehicle.
•    Always lock the doors, even when you are away from the vehicle for a short time.
•    Always roll up your windows when you leave your vehicle, even when it’s parked in the driveway or garage.
•    Place items out of sight before you reach your destination. If you can’t take personal property with you, lock items in the trunk. Do not place them under the seat. This includes your purse or wallet, CDs, books, cash, keys, cell phone, laptop, garage door opener, gym bag, briefcase, jewelry, tools, packages, etc. If a thief breaks into your vehicle and steals your garage door opener and keys, they have access to your home.
•    Do not leave ANY mail in your vehicle. These items have your name, address and possibly contain personal financial information.
•    Remove “pull out” style stereos and/or removable face plates of stereos.
•    Park in well-lit areas. At home, park your vehicle near porch lights. If you can not park in a garage, install motion detection lights which will illuminate your driveway at night.
•    Set any alarm or anti-theft device.
•    NEVER leave any documents, credit cards or checkbook in your vehicle.

The Maricopa Police Department is working hard to solve these crimes, but often physical evidence is very scarce in these types of cases. MPD has increased proactive patrol in the Senita community and through out the city during the nighttime hours. We encourage anyone who observes individuals lurking around parked vehicles, or anything else that appears suspicious, to call police immediately.

Emergency (Something happening right now)     9-1-1
Non-Emergency (Not in progress)        520/866.5111

Information on starting a Block Watch        520/316.6882

Formerly headquartered in Chandler, Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignments has moved to Maricopa in an effort to expand its service area to include everywhere from Phoenix to Tucson.

“We are excited to bring this unique service to Pinal County,” Jim McMichael, Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignments president, explained. “We help the client make an educated purchasing decision without any outside influence. We negotiate the best deal possible on their behalf. We save them time, hassles and money.”

Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignments consults, informs, educates and negotiates the vehicle purchase for their clients. If a client knows exactly what they want, McMichael negotiates the deal and brings the signing papers and the car to the client’s home.

In most cases, this happens without the client ever stepping onto the dealership lot. If the client prefers to test drive a vehicle, McMichael arranges a pre-set time for the test drive and accompanies the client. The client is never alone in the purchasing process.

McMichael spent nearly 30 years working at car dealerships. After clients and friends kept asking him to help them purchase vehicles, he came up with the idea to provide the service for a flat fee, and not commissions.

He also helps his clients sell their vehicles when utilizing his consignment program, also for a flat fee. McMichael is in the process of creating a franchise package for Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignment.

Entering its fourth year of business, Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignment works to create relationships that last a lifetime. The consultant helps clients after the car drives off the lot by being a liaison if there is a problem with the car, warranty or service rider. More information about Everybody’s Auto Buyer and Consignment, contact Jim McMichael at 602-423-7752 or visit www.everybodysautobuyer.com .

A 60-year old Maricopa resident would later die from injuries she suffered during the collision. It was determined that the other subject was operating his vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of almost three times the legal limit. As a result, this subject was charged with Aggravated DUI and Manslaughter.

This tragic incident shows the extent of the dangers which surrounds operation of a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). In 2008, there were 6,757 alcohol-related vehicle crashes across the state. More than 4,700 people were injured and 324 people were killed.

These figures do not include the over $521 million in property damages associated with alcohol-related crashes. That number sky rockets when emergency personnel and equipment costs, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the emotional anguish over injury and loss of loved ones are added.

The Maricopa Police Department has been and will continue to be committed to a high level of traffic enforcement and driver education as an effective way to take impaired drivers off the streets of Maricopa. Drivers that disobey traffic laws are a hazard to everyone else on the road. This past year, the Maricopa Police Department made 249 DUI arrests and issued over 3,100 citations for other major moving violations, such as speeding and red light violations.

The Maricopa Police Department was recently awarded a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for $30,000 to do additional DUI enforcement within the City of Maricopa. The Maricopa Police Department will remain proactive, professional and progressive as we enforce Arizona traffic laws and strive for safer streets in the City of Maricopa.

Officers then responded to the 16000 block of north Palo Verde where they made contact with a male subject. The subject, who refused to cooperate with police, retreated into the residence. Information was received at the time of the investigation that the male subject had possible access to a firearm inside the residence. Police immediately began negotiations with the subject. At around 0800 hours the officers were able to convince the subject to exit the residence where he was placed into custody without further incident.

No officers were injured during the course of the investigation. The male subject, identified as Justin Watson (27) of Maricopa, was treated by the Maricopa Fire Department for a minor injury and later booked at the Pinal County jail on several counts of domestic violence.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a series of intra-state/intra-nation runs that take place in the spring and summer in the United States and around the world. Law enforcement personnel carry the Special Olympics Torch for a common cause which takes them through blizzards in Alaska, the mists of England, the islands of the Caribbean, the endless farmland of Illinois, and the deserts of Arizona, to bring the Torch to the Opening Ceremonies of our state or nation’s Special Olympics Summer Games. The common goal is to raise money to support Special Olympics athletes, as well as help dispel the myths surrounding the capabilities of people with disabilities.

The Maricopa Police Department was honored to be able to be involved in such a worthy cause.

For more information about the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics:  http://www.arizonatorchrun.com/aboutus/main.asp?menuid=2