Thieves armed with AK-47 style rifles steal trucks in the Waddell area

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating at least two vehicle thefts in the Waddell area, including one that was captured on video showing a thief with an AK-47-style rifle.

On Wednesday, MCSO reported that there had been two recent carjackings near Citrus Road and Peoria Avenue, including one that was captured on a Ring surveillance camera mounted above a driveway.

In the video, a white Chevrolet Camaro pulls up to the house and two masked suspects catch one. One begins by getting into a pickup truck parked in the driveway while the other points a rifle at the front door of the house.

“They knew they would be gone. In and out, five minutes, with hoods and gloves, knowing they wouldn’t get caught,” said resident Michael Florent. “And if I had left, they would have shot me.”

The video clip shows one of the thieves starting the truck as the armed suspect jumps into the back seat. Then both vehicles drive away.

This incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., followed shortly after by another truck theft.

“Yes, it stinks. “You don’t think this is going to happen to you,” Florent said. “You work hard. You’re doing your job and something like this happens.”

Wireless key fobs are the latest target of tech-savvy thieves, who use tech-savvy tablets to break into cars, disconnect them from OnStar and drive away without a key.

“It’s just scary that someone can just plug a little tablet into your data port, start your truck and drive off,” Florent said.

The sheriff’s office said it is investigating a home invasion that occurred near 79th Avenue and Peoria on a county island. Investigators cannot confirm whether the thefts and break-ins were organized groups or impersonators, or whether these incidents are even related.

MCSO is providing additional resources and gathering information from other law enforcement agencies investigating similar cases.

The sheriff’s office urges anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline at 602-876-TIPS (8477) or 602-876-1011.

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