Two people police say are part of a loose network of drug users who break into vehicles at gym parking lots have been arrested.
Jeremy Patrick Kelly, 26, and Shanna Moon, 22, were charged with a total of 11 felonies related to thefts, according to a May 7 indictment filed last month in Superior Court.
While more arrests are expected in connection with the pair, police won't call the crimes organized.
Kelly and Moon aren't part of a sophisticated crime ring, but they have either learned from or shared their experiences with other methamphetamine users, said Tucson police Detective Sean Garnand.
"They're opportunists, and if they've found that they can benefit from a certain type of theft, then they'll keep doing it," he said.
And when meth users find an easy way to steal, "they share their success stories," Garnand said.
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Since January, thieves have been targeting gym parking lots on the North and Northwest sides of Tucson. The cases are being investigated by both Tucson police and the Sheriff's Department.
The Sheriff's Department reported 34 incidents from January through mid-May at three Northwest Side gyms within a few miles of each other: LA Fitness Sports Club, 2950 W. Ina Road; Northwest YMCA, 7770 N. Shannon Road; and Gold's Gym, 7315 N. Oracle Road.
Similar thefts have occurred in the city.
The thieves break into vehicles in daylight to steal wallets, purses or other valuables.
A joint investigation by the two departments led to Kelly's and Moon's arrests after police served a search warrant at a hotel near North Stone Avenue and Drachman Street. There, police found evidence of the thefts and meth use, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a police spokesman.
Kelly was indicted on seven counts of theft, two counts of forgery and one count of fraud. He is being held without bond at the Pima County jail.
Moon was indicted on one count of theft but wasn't in jail, according to online records.
Moon has a prior attempted-theft conviction, according the indictment. Kelly has been convicted of theft, mail theft, solicitation of forgery and possession of burglary tools, the indictment said.
Despite the rash of thefts from gym parking lots, there hasn't been a significant increase in the total number of thefts from vehicles, Tucson police crime data show.
Through April, Tucson police have reported 1,300 car break-ins, according to crime data. There were 1,229 incidents through April 2006, the data show.
People can prevent thefts by locking their vehicle doors, Robinson said. Also, wallets, purses and keys should be taken inside.
Other items, such as packages, cell phones and CD players, should be stored out of sight, according to tips from the Tucson police Web site.
The Star's cop reporters blog about crime and safety in Tucson at go.azstarnet.com/ policebeat
"They're opportunists, and if they've found that they can benefit from a certain type of theft, then they'll keep doing it."
Sean Garnand
Tucson police detective
