Phoenix neighbors help police catch suspected burglar

ABC15.com ^ | May 8, 2008 | Lori Jane Gliha

[Tarantulas]

A burglar, looking for loot inside a home near 8th and Northern avenues in Phoenix, instead found himself in the back of a police car, headed to jail.

Neighbors who live in the area claim they have an undercover block watch system that helps keep criminals out of their community.

"We know exactly who to call," one neighbor told ABC15.

Police accuse Jesse Parra of breaking into Bill Marshall's home near 8th Avenue and Royal Palm Road.

Marshall said the bad guy used a porch ornament to shatter his front window and break into his home.

Though Marshall was not home at the time, police told ABC15 another neighbor noticed the suspect's unusual vehicle parked in front of Marshall's house and called 911.

Another neighbor, meanwhile, confronted the suspect as he was exiting Marshall's house with a laptop in his hands.

The burglar, according to police tried to run over the neighbor, and that's when the neighbor fired two shots into the man's front tire.

The suspect tried to get away, but a police helicopter and police ground units caught up with him.

Neighbors told ABC15 they know everyone on the block. They have a special block watch that patrols the area at night.

They don't want to identify themselves as block watch leaders, but they will continue trying to keep criminals out of their community.

[Tarantulas]

Armed citizen foils burglar, fires in self defense (with a shotgun), and describes the block watch with "We're armed. Stay away." All presented in a positive way by the TV station. The video on the web page is worth watching.

[Lurker]

This is pretty much the method we use for protecting our little neighborhood. Our first NW meeting of the summer is coming up soon.

While we in IL are forbidden to exercise our 2nd Amendment rights on the street, there's nothing in IL law that says we can't carry concealed on our own private property. Quite frequently there are half a dozen armed citizens enjoying the neighborhood from our own front porches.

There's also a phone and a camera nearby....

Just sayin'.

L

[Sir Hailstone]

Nice!!

ARMED CITIZENS ALERT!!

[donna]

Phoenix man shoots, kills thief stealing his truck
http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=830847

Gunman kills self during Phoenix home invasion
http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=830840

[Tarantulas]

Thanks. Check this out:

http://www.topix.net/phoenix

It’s quite an interesting website. Both of those stories are there.

[ASA Vet]