Phoenix law enforcement has apprehended two men, Yosvanys Perez Martinez and Alexei Torres Alvarez, linked to a series of calculated burglaries at Family Dollar stores and a KFC in the Valley. The duo's operation spanned from February to September and involved carefully crafted heists which the Phoenix Police Department labeled a "professional criminal enterprise" due to their apparent meticulous nature and planning, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Demonstrating a methodical approach the two allegedly scouted locations dressed as police officers to dismiss bystanders and then, executing their intrusions at night, they cut power lines and forcibly entered through the back doors of the establishments, once they were inside it's alleged that they disabled alarm systems and, donning masks and gloves, applied chemicals to erase potential DNA evidence, as described by AZ Family.
Despite their efforts to remain undetected, a telltale Chevy Impala with its lights and engine left on near the crime scenes tied Martinez and Alvarez to the burglaries. This evidence, coupled with cell phone data positioning them at the locations of the incidents, led to their capture. Last month, the Phoenix Police Department's dive team salvaged a safe from the river—linked to a theft from one of the burglarized stores—that Martinez and Alvarez were seen discarding the previous day.
The aftermath of the burglaries has left the targeted businesses with nearly $400,000 in damages and losses, and now the alleged culprits are facing multiple charges of burglary; "These guys have a degree of sophistication that you know I’m surprised that they got caught," Stan Kephart, a former Valley Police Chief with no direct tie to the investigation, told AZ Family. Both Martinez and Alvarez remain in custody with a bond set at $30,000 each, awaiting their next court appearance slated for Thursday.
