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Burglary suspects duped by foreclosure story
- Apr. 21, 2008 01:31 PM
The Arizona Republic
Chandler police arrested two men driving a U-haul filled with furniture stolen from model homes after the men say they were duped into believing they were buying the items from a homeowner facing foreclosure.
A neighbor near the model homes near Queen Creek and Cooper roads saw the men loading furniture into a truck Saturday evening, became suspicious and called police.
After police pulled over the U-haul, Phillip Martinez of Chandler and Frank Valenzuela of Mesa were separated by officers but each told the same story: a man they met in a bar offered them furniture and other goods from the houses for $500. Martinez and Valenzuela said the man, who they had not seen before and knew little about, told them he owned the houses but they were about to go into foreclosure.
According to a police report, the pair said they rented the U-haul and met the man at the houses, where he took their money and left them to haul out the furniture. Martinez and Valenzuela told police they packed as much furniture as they could into the truck and left before police pulled them over near Arizona Avenue and Queen Creek Road.
Both men are facing second-degree burglary charges. Police were not able to confirm the identity or existence of the third
- Apr. 21, 2008 01:31 PM
The Arizona Republic
Chandler police arrested two men driving a U-haul filled with furniture stolen from model homes after the men say they were duped into believing they were buying the items from a homeowner facing foreclosure.
A neighbor near the model homes near Queen Creek and Cooper roads saw the men loading furniture into a truck Saturday evening, became suspicious and called police.
After police pulled over the U-haul, Phillip Martinez of Chandler and Frank Valenzuela of Mesa were separated by officers but each told the same story: a man they met in a bar offered them furniture and other goods from the houses for $500. Martinez and Valenzuela said the man, who they had not seen before and knew little about, told them he owned the houses but they were about to go into foreclosure.
According to a police report, the pair said they rented the U-haul and met the man at the houses, where he took their money and left them to haul out the furniture. Martinez and Valenzuela told police they packed as much furniture as they could into the truck and left before police pulled them over near Arizona Avenue and Queen Creek Road.
Both men are facing second-degree burglary charges. Police were not able to confirm the identity or existence of the third
