News
New trend in break-ins to vandalize
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Although burglaries tend to be committed mostly by criminals in their late teens or early 20s, Benson Police Chief Paul Moncada said now a good number of burglaries are committed solely to vandalize an establishment.
Just 10 years ago Moncada said a teenager or young adult would rob a house or business primarily for money or to steal electronics to sell. Drugs were frequently the driving factor.
"I would like to say some of these burglaries now are drug related. But some of these are just being done out of spite," Moncada said. "Compared to 10 years ago. the age group is still the same, but now it's about trashing the place, rather than just stealing items of value."
An example of the new trend was the July 2009 burglary where two Benson teens broke into the Chevron gas station on N. Ocotillo Road, breaking glass and equipment but only stealing tobacco products.
Later that same morning, the two went to the Junction Express General Store on State Route 80 and caused nearly $50,000 in damage. Again, only tobacco products were stolen.
Moncada said besides being vengeful, the two convicted with the crimes appeared to have no other motive except destruction.
The police report said it appears one subject took a baseball bat and swung it at the front door and windows at the Junction Express. Merchandise and equipment were also badly damaged, causing the storeowner to close for two days to clean up.
Rey Alfonso Ramirez and Preston Allan Havener were convicted of the crime. The two 18-year-olds have been ordered to pay $47,286 restitution and were sentenced to four years probation after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree burglary, criminal damage, and trafficking in stolen property.
So far in 2010, the Benson Police Department has investigated 10 burglaries, but Moncada said they think one person is responsible for seven of them.
On Feb. 12, Timothy Michael Shannon, 33, was charged with burglary, criminal damage, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shannon was arrested after evidence was found inside his home that matched items stolen from the Cochise County Transfer Station at 980 N. Madison.
Moncada said the strange part of this particular crime was that the suspect took the keys to a bobcat tractor, but left the electronic equipment.
Moncada said Shannon is suspected of other burglaries to both businesses and residences in Benson, but the motive is unknown.
"These burglaries are very different from what we are used to seeing," said the police chief. "Very little was taken. It may be that he was just looking for cash, but all the electronics and valuable equipment were left behind."
Shannon, who was held on $400,000 bond, has negotiated a plea agreement with the Cochise County attorney's office, and is facing up to six years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 22.
Shannon is also suspected of another robbery under investigation by the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
In another case, in January, Joshua Price of Benson was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for possession of stolen property. Price entered into a plea agreement with the county attorney for having a human skull in his possession that related to a 2007 case where human remains were stolen from the Cochise Gardens of Rest Cemetery on State Route 80.
A specific motive for stealing the human remains was never clear, but police did suspect the remains of Bill 'Doc' Hamilton were stolen for satanic reasons.
Even with the prison sentence, Hamilton's family members continue to ask why their father's grave was chosen.
The schools are also common targets. During Christmas break, both the Benson and St. David schools had break-ins. Like the other burglaries, very little was taken and limited damage was caused.
Moncada said in January that school break-ins are more the result of bored teenagers. Benson schools did report one laptop stolen from the agriculture department.
Moncada noted burglary rates in the city have increased during the last two years. He said he is hopeful that the destructive tendencies of those involved are a generational problem that will not continue.
Although burglaries tend to be committed mostly by criminals in their late teens or early 20s, Benson Police Chief Paul Moncada said now a good number of burglaries are committed solely to vandalize an establishment.
Just 10 years ago Moncada said a teenager or young adult would rob a house or business primarily for money or to steal electronics to sell. Drugs were frequently the driving factor.
"I would like to say some of these burglaries now are drug related. But some of these are just being done out of spite," Moncada said. "Compared to 10 years ago. the age group is still the same, but now it's about trashing the place, rather than just stealing items of value."
An example of the new trend was the July 2009 burglary where two Benson teens broke into the Chevron gas station on N. Ocotillo Road, breaking glass and equipment but only stealing tobacco products.
Later that same morning, the two went to the Junction Express General Store on State Route 80 and caused nearly $50,000 in damage. Again, only tobacco products were stolen.
Moncada said besides being vengeful, the two convicted with the crimes appeared to have no other motive except destruction.
The police report said it appears one subject took a baseball bat and swung it at the front door and windows at the Junction Express. Merchandise and equipment were also badly damaged, causing the storeowner to close for two days to clean up.
Rey Alfonso Ramirez and Preston Allan Havener were convicted of the crime. The two 18-year-olds have been ordered to pay $47,286 restitution and were sentenced to four years probation after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree burglary, criminal damage, and trafficking in stolen property.
So far in 2010, the Benson Police Department has investigated 10 burglaries, but Moncada said they think one person is responsible for seven of them.
On Feb. 12, Timothy Michael Shannon, 33, was charged with burglary, criminal damage, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Shannon was arrested after evidence was found inside his home that matched items stolen from the Cochise County Transfer Station at 980 N. Madison.
Moncada said the strange part of this particular crime was that the suspect took the keys to a bobcat tractor, but left the electronic equipment.
Moncada said Shannon is suspected of other burglaries to both businesses and residences in Benson, but the motive is unknown.
"These burglaries are very different from what we are used to seeing," said the police chief. "Very little was taken. It may be that he was just looking for cash, but all the electronics and valuable equipment were left behind."
Shannon, who was held on $400,000 bond, has negotiated a plea agreement with the Cochise County attorney's office, and is facing up to six years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 22.
Shannon is also suspected of another robbery under investigation by the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
In another case, in January, Joshua Price of Benson was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for possession of stolen property. Price entered into a plea agreement with the county attorney for having a human skull in his possession that related to a 2007 case where human remains were stolen from the Cochise Gardens of Rest Cemetery on State Route 80.
A specific motive for stealing the human remains was never clear, but police did suspect the remains of Bill 'Doc' Hamilton were stolen for satanic reasons.
Even with the prison sentence, Hamilton's family members continue to ask why their father's grave was chosen.
The schools are also common targets. During Christmas break, both the Benson and St. David schools had break-ins. Like the other burglaries, very little was taken and limited damage was caused.
Moncada said in January that school break-ins are more the result of bored teenagers. Benson schools did report one laptop stolen from the agriculture department.
Moncada noted burglary rates in the city have increased during the last two years. He said he is hopeful that the destructive tendencies of those involved are a generational problem that will not continue.
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