After a rash of smash-and-grab burglaries targeting smoke shops across the Phoenix area, three arrests have brought a touch of solace to the affected business owners. Among the establishments hit was Toke N’ Smoke in Goodyear, where co-owner Ericka James is calling for more accountability following a break-in that resulted in approximately $17,000 in losses due to property damage and stolen merchandise, ABC15 reported.
Named in the recent arrests are 19-year-olds Joshua Dubinsky and Romayne McKinney, and 22-year-old Shawn McKinney. These three suspects are now facing multiple felony charges, tied to a series of burglaries spanning from November 20 to mid-December. Erika James, reached for a comment by ABC15, expressed her fury at the alarming incidences, which were captured on Toke N’ Smoke's surveillance video showing the suspects using a bin to ferry stolen goods quickly from the shop.
Police have connected the suspects to over a dozen similar burglaries in the Valley, some dating as early as April. With the help of cell phone data, license plate readers, and the recognition of burglary methods and clothing descriptions, investigators were able to zero in on the culprits. Taking stock of the situation, two of the three had been previously arrested for burglary in the summer, heightening the frustration for James and other business owners affected by the crime spree, as AZFamily detailed.
In the midst of grappling with this trend, business owners like James are advocating for a firmer legal response, hoping to set a precedent that will both deter repeat offenses and create an environment where doing business does not mean the constant threat of falling victim to brazen theft. "We need to really make a statement this time to not only deter them or keep them from being able to do this again, but deter others from trying to emulate the same pattern and starting over again," James told AZFamily in an impassioned plea for justice.
