Sierra Vista Police Solve String of Burglaries, Including Break-In at Dos Bros Taco Shop

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — The Sierra Vista Police Department made multiple arrests this month after solving two separate burglary cases in the community, a break-in at a local restaurant and a string of vehicle burglaries in a residential neighborhood.

Taco Shop Break-In

A man broke into Dos Bros Taco Shop sometime between the restaurant's closing on Saturday, Aug. 29, and the arrival of employees the following morning. The break-in caused more than $10,000 in damage and resulted in the theft of money from the restaurant.

The damage was most visible at the back door, which was pulled off its hinges during the break-in.

"Our door is completely off the hinges because when he was outside yanking on it, he broke one of the pieces on here," said co-owner Bianca Ruiz.

Police responded to the burglary call at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 30. During the break-in, the suspect left behind a critical piece of evidence. When he forced open a window, he cut his hand and left a blood print while wrestling with the window frame.

"When he opened the window, he cut his hand, and when he was wrestling with it, he left a blood print. So that was a big lead in the investigation," Ruiz said.

Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest

On Sept. 1, an SVPD officer identified a vehicle known to be occupied by the suspect and initiated a traffic stop. During the stop, the suspect showed signs of impairment, prompting the officer to begin a DUI investigation. A warrant was obtained to secure a blood sample for analysis.

The suspect was booked into the Cochise County Jail on charges of burglary, criminal damage, theft, criminal trespass, possession of burglary tools, and DUI.

Ruiz estimates the damage will cost the business about $10,000, not including the cash the suspect took.

"It's a hit for a local small business, you know, that's trying to make it day by day," Ruiz said.

Vehicle Burglary Spree

Six days after the Dos Bros burglary, on Sept. 7, SVPD responded to multiple reports of vehicle burglaries in the Canyon de Flores neighborhood. Police said 12 vehicles were targeted in the spree.

"There was a common trend here. They were looking for vehicles that were unlocked," said SVPD Patrol Bureau Commander Justin Dannels.

Juvenile Arrests

On Sept. 8, police arrested two juveniles in connection with the vehicle burglaries. The juveniles were booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on 12 counts of vehicle burglary and one count of attempted theft of a means of transportation. Their identities and genders were not disclosed in accordance with juvenile privacy laws.

In both cases, SVPD used social media to help identify suspects and generate leads. The department said the approach requires careful judgment to balance timely information sharing with the risk of alerting suspects.

"We appreciate the community's assistance in this investigation," Dannels said. "Resident involvement was critical in the identification and apprehension of the suspects."

Burglary Activity Comes in Waves

SVPD Special Operations Bureau Commander Bill Heiple said burglary activity in the area tends to come in waves.

"It's cyclical, so sometimes we'll go two or three months and we only have one or two burglaries, and then we can go like here, where we have two burglaries, different types, but still burglaries," Heiple said.

With both cases resolved, SVPD is reminding residents to stay alert and keep their vehicles locked.

At Dos Bros Taco Shop, Ruiz said the community's support has helped the business through the ordeal.

"Being able to serve them, that's what's keeping us going. You know, just serving the community," Ruiz said.

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Reporting by Marcus Whitfield, Arizona State News. This story is based on reporting by Alexis Ramanjulu of KGUN 9.