Thieves Lift $2K Water Tank from Hidden Valley in Bold Heist

As the Atlantic seaboard faces catastrophic flooding, Arizona is grappling with a long-term drought, resulting in the worst wildfire season on record for western Pinal County. This alarming situation has been exacerbated by the recent “moderate drought” designation for Maricopa, confirmed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources on September 10, which indicates conditions more severe than mere dryness.

In a distressing turn of events, a theft in Maricopa’s rural Hidden Valley region has rattled the community. Darvin Setser reported to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office that thieves stole a large water tank from his property on Ralston Road. “Somebody cut my lock on my gate, backed in and stole my water tank this weekend,” Setser stated.

Setser, who lives about two miles from the crime scene, expressed concern that the thieves targeted his home since he is in the process of selling the property at 270 S. Ralston Road. Alarmingly, the batteries for his home security cameras were dead at the time of the incident, leaving no evidence or suspect descriptions available. According to PCSO spokesperson Lauren Reimer, “We can confirm PCSO took a report this morning regarding a stolen water tank,” noting that the tank was valued at $2,000.

The theft has left neighbors in Hidden Valley feeling uneasy. Alongside the water tank theft, the property was also vandalized, marking a concerning shift for a region previously thought of as a tranquil residential area. “We need to be really vigilant here lately,” said June Staruch of Sotol Road. “We are getting more crime out here than ever before.”