Crime numbers have dropped significantly in Tempe over the last decade, according to Tempe Police Department data, and Arizona Mills mall — once one of the worst areas of the city for auto theft and other crime – has worked hard to fix its own safety status.
The city of Tempe had a decrease in all crimes — including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson — by 41 percent over the last decade. In particular, vehicle theft dropped from 3,215 vehicles stolen in 2001 to 550 in 2011, according to statistics available on the Tempe police website.
In 2006, Arizona Mills mall had about 100 vehicles stolen per month, said Tempe officer Richard Fairclough who patrols the area regularly. Last year, Arizona Mills accounted for 24 of Tempe’s city-wide total.
“Tempe’s approach to reduce auto theft numbers has included education campaigns, neighborhood, multi-housing and mall focus, a fusion of operations with technology, and information-sharing with other law enforcement agencies to thwart organized auto theft syndicates,” said Molly Enright, public information officer for the Tempe Police Department.
To enhance the security of shoppers’ vehicles and deter crime, the mall provides an operating camera system that runs 24 hours a day, along with 35 to 40 security guards on vehicle, foot and bike patrols.
“The first use of force is officer presence,” Fairclough said.
According to Fairclough and fellow officer Richard Laux, the average vehicle thief can pop the lock of a car and drive off in about 15 seconds. This makes it hard to tell, even in brood daylight, whether the person entering the vehicle is the owner or not, resulting in most thieves getting away, Laux said. Laux, like Fairclough, frequently patrols the Arizona Mills area, located between Baseline Road and the US 60 and Interstate 10 and Priest Drive.
The afternoon in daylight hours is the most common time for cars to be broken into, according to the officers, along with right around typical dinner time, when most people aren’t in the parking lot.
Two vehicle types in particular that continue to be targeted are Honda Civics and Honda Accords. According to Laux and Fairclough, the two models are still the most commonly broken into vehicles because of their ease to get started, while also providing a relatively easy lock to be popped. The officers noted that many of the models — especially older model years — lack a computer chip that is necessary to start the ignition in newer automobiles.
Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks were also a target for vehicle thieves at one time, they said, adding that the trucks would be stolen then potentially used to smuggle people or drugs across the border before being destroyed; that trend is slowly dying down, they said.
There are reasonable actions vehicle owners can take to help prevent their car from being stolen, Laux said.
“Clubs are probably the best defense against car theft,” he said.
Steering wheel lock devices like the Club are relatively common, Laux said, and cost between $25 and $50 each. Laux said such devices are more effective than alarms, noting that car alarms will go off about 15 times per day in the mall parking lot, yet few pay attention because they’re so common and easy to accidently set off. Fairclough said he has never taken a report on a stolen car that had a steering wheel lock, like a Club, on it.
The officers and the shopping center also count on citizens to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior. The officers said that most of the thefts caught were because of a citizen call in to authorities.
“We count on citizens to be our partners in preventing crime.” Enright said. “Don’t make it easy for thieves to take your vehicle in the first place. Our crime prevention unit offers some common sense tips that can help you avoid becoming a victim.”
These tips include always locking car doors, keeping garages closed, purchasing a steering wheel device, not leaving valuables visible in a vehicle and etching an ID number for the vehicle on the window glass trim.
Vehicle return rates vary depending on the reason for theft, Fairclough added. Most vehicles stolen for the purpose of smuggling are not usually recovered because they are burned to get rid of the evidence, he said.
Cars stolen for joy rides, however, are often found with damage, while others are taken for the sole purpose of the vehicle’s parts. Those are sometimes found, but often stripped to a shell, Fairclough said.
More information on Tempe’s crime statistics, the city’s crime analysis unit, and various safety tips can be found online at evtnow.com/363.
Engaged Voter posted at 9:17 am on Wed, Jul 4, 2012.
"The city of Tempe had a decrease in all crimes — including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson — by 41 percent over the last decade"
"trucks would be stolen than potentially used to smuggle people or drugs across the border"
I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with the recent exodus of illegal aliens...right, Bill Richardson? ;)
billrichardson posted at 11:39 am on Wed, Jul 4, 2012.
Engaged Voter,
According to FBI reports serious crime in Tempe is actually up by 5% from 2010 to 2011. As far as crime rates go, according to the Arizona Association of Crime Analyst's website, Tempe's crime in 2010 was 57.5 serious felony crime per 1,000 residents. That's the second highest crime rate in Metro Phoenix. Glendale is first at 64.3 per 1,000. In the East Valley Tempe has a considerably higher crime rate than the rest of the cities. Gilbert is lowest at 21.2 per 1,000, Chandler is at 35 per 1,000 and Mesa comes in at 38.1 per 1,000. Tempe even has a higher crime rate than Phoenix where there were 48.2 serious felony crimes per 1,000.
Crime is down double digits across the United States. What has happened in Tempe has happened pretty much everywhere else. For some some unknown reason, Tempe where they have the more police officers per 1,000 residents than any other East Valley city and they spend more money per resident on policing, they can't seem to get a handle on serious felony crime.
Tempe has never been a destination for illegal aliens. What it has become is a destination for the Sinaloa Drug Cartel and organized crime street gangs with links to notorious prison gangs that have links to Mexican drug cartels.
You might remember that Sheriff Arpaio has never done an immigration round-up in Tempe like he has in other East Valley cities.
Tempe's serious crime problems have little or nothing to do with illegal immigration.
Engaged Voter posted at 10:28 pm on Wed, Jul 4, 2012.
Let's clear something up - I am not an Arpaio fan. I find his sweeps to be nothing more than media photo-ops.
You claim Tempe is not an illegal alien destination, then in the very next sentence admit that Sinaloa and other Mexican cartels (who, in addition to drugs, make money from human smuggling) have made it a destination.
Are you suggesting that the Sinaloa Drug Cartel (and others) has little or nothing to do with Tempe's serious crime problem?
billrichardson posted at 6:32 am on Thu, Jul 5, 2012.
Human smuggling is just one of a couple dozen profit centers that Mexico based organized crime groups like the Sinaloa Drug Cartel make money off of.
Tempe has historically blamed ASU, other cities and transient workers for it elevated crime rate. The theory doesn't hold water.
The work by police at Arizona Mills is admirable, but the rest of the city has serious crime problems.
Crime is about more than illegal immigration.