City police field nearly 50 reports of peeping Toms

The number of actual incidents involving peeping Toms — voyeurs who watch others for pleasure — is probably higher because many people don't report them, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a police spokesman.

Incidents should be reported, he said, because the people who commit such acts can go on to commit other, more serious crimes such as burglary and sexual assault, Pacheco said.

People may start as peeping Toms but then go on to burglarize homes, looking not for valuables, but for things connected to their fantasies, he said. And many go on to commit sex-related crimes, he said.

Overall, police received 47 reports of peeping Toms, including at three locations where there were several reports.

A concentration of those calls came from the area around the University of Arizona.

The site with the most reports is just north of Midtown in the 2900 block of East Fort Lowell Road. It had four reports, all in July and later months.

One location in the 3700 block of North First Avenue had three reports of peeping Toms. In the 1200 block of East Lee Street, there were two reports.

More than half of all the incidents were reported to police between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

People can protect themselves against window peeping. Make sure doors and windows are locked, pay attention to your surroundings and be involved in Neighborhood Watch programs, Pacheco said.

People who see peeping Toms or suspicious people should not confront them. Instead, try to get an accurate description of them and any related vehicles to give police, he said.