Maricopa County Sheriff’s detectives arrested two individuals who are suspected to be the masterminds behind recent “kick-in” burglaries in the Sun City communities over the last two months.
Arvin Toledo Garcia, 21 and Marco A. Elias Martinez, 20, were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on multiple counts of second-degree burglary and trafficking in stolen property.
Detectives are looking for two additional associates identified as Cristobal Renteria Marin, 20, and Jose Mendoza Ruiz, 28.
Maricopa County sheriff’s detectives said the four committed more than 51 residential burglaries throughout Sun City and Sun City West, often more than one a day.
The group targeted homes where the occupants were away on vacation. They would kick in a door to get inside the residence then take items they coul carry including flat screen TVs, jewelry, firearms and computers.
Items linking Martinez and Garcia to the crimes were found after deputies and Surprise police officers served four search warrants Friday on homes in El Mirage. Antique jewelry and rare and unique coins, dating back to the 1800s, were also recovered.
During an interview with detectives, Martinez and Garcia admitted that they were involved in the kick-in burglaries, according to sheriff’s officials. Martinez reportedly admitted that he was the person who orchestrated the crimes and taught others how to commit them.
“My warning to all criminals is to stay out of the Sun City, Sun City West communities, preying on the elderly, because we will use every resource, including crime suppression operations, and the numerous pieces of equipment at our disposal to locate you and throw you in jail,” Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in a news release.