Night-Crawling Thieves Strike Again in Glennwilde: 10 Cars Damaged, 1 Arrested!

Car burglaries are becoming a pressing issue in Maricopa, particularly on Kendra Way in Glennwilde. Residents are urged to enhance vehicle security measures by locking their cars.

Recently, Charles A. Sturtevant was arrested on December 11 and confessed to targeting ten vehicles on the night of November 25. He, along with an accomplice identified only as Jacob, allegedly committed the crimes in search of funds to buy insulin. Sturtevant now faces multiple charges, including burglary and theft, potentially leading to a seven-year prison sentence.

As of this week, law enforcement is actively pursuing Jacob, seeking his arrest in connection with the burglaries. Sturtevant’s admission during a police interview reflected a troubling motive. He revealed that “all the items he and Jacob stole were located on Jacob’s person” when he was caught.

The Maricopa Police Department continues to investigate similar incidents, including a string of burglaries reported earlier this year. In March, the Rancho Mirage neighborhood fell victim to multiple vehicle thefts. Authorities have since requested that residents review their home security footage for any clues, encouraging them to report findings through the MPD non-emergency line at 520-568-3673.

Residents can also enroll in the Camera Registration Program, a voluntary initiative that allows police to know which homes might provide critical evidence without granting them direct access to the cameras.

The scope of these car burglaries extends beyond Maricopa’s city limits. In October, two vehicles were burglarized in Amarillo Creek, and the previous month, similar incidents occurred in Rancho El Dorado. Two residents reported the theft of thousands of dollars in tools from their work trucks during that time.

Earlier this year, police apprehended teenagers wearing clown masks in connection with burglaries in Maricopa Meadows and Desert Passage, specifically targeting cars in search of firearms rather than cash. A month later, Acacia Crossings experienced an attempted burglary, documented by security cameras showing teenagers checking for unlocked doors.

In August, a notable incident involved six vehicles being burglarized in Rancho Mirage within a single night. However, not all encounters between thieves and law enforcement end without violence. In June, a 17-year-old accused of burglary was shot and killed by police in Tortosa, illustrating the potential dangers involved in such criminal activities.