Traditionally known as a warm-weather, desert-terrain, tourist destination, Phoenix has also become known as the Kidnapping City of the World. The fifth largest U.S. city, Phoenix ranks second only to Mexico City in kidnappings. In 2008, there were 368 kidnappings and 357 home invasions in Phoenix. It s not uncommon for kidnappings to be rooted in home invasions.
A number of things create a perfect storm in Phoenix, said Sgt. Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix PD. The city s proximity to the Mexican border just 150 miles distant provides easy access to a quick escape: A truck can be driven from Phoenix over dirt roads and through gullies to a spot adjacent to the border fence without ever touching a paved road. Then, a drop ramp can be placed to enable individuals to drive over the fence into the U.S. and to Phoenix.
During the housing boom, Phoenix couldn t build houses fast enough, creating a prolific housing market. A criminal s relatives or friends could rent a house, paying cash to the landlord, and subsequently turn the house over to the criminal, who could use it to conceal drugs, weapons, stolen goods and wanted suspects. These drop houses increasingly house illegal immigrants.
Phoenix is a transshipment point that facilitates access for drug or human smugglers. There are victims who may have paid a coyote $1,500 to come across the border. Once the illegal immigrants arrive in Phoenix, they re often transferred to a drop house where they re held or stolen from another coyote. We have found as many as 80 people in a drop house, Thompson said. They are humans reduced to nothing more than cargo.
The victims are often tortured at the drop houses while calls are made to their families so they can listen to the impact of the torture on their family members. Men and women are sexually assaulted, as well as beaten and burned with cigarettes. No woman deserves to be raped while her family listens so the kidnappers can get more money, Thompson said.
Ransom demands can be $200,000, $300,000 or greater, and may be as high as $1 million. It s not unusual for kidnappers to attempt to obtain an additional $2,500 from the victims families. The kidnappers may ask for 50 or 100 lbs. of marijuana or another drug. One set of kidnappers wanted $100,000. They got a saw, cut a 4×6 hole in the floor and had ready-mix to bury a man alive, and then put the concrete back on top of the floor. These people can be heinous, Thompson said.
He acknowledged that law enforcement officers are doing whatever they can to save the victims. For officers, they love to work these. A bad day for a cop is when we can t put a bad guy in jail. Many times we cannot find and prove there is a criminal element involved, Thompson said.
The major mission of the Illegal Immigration Prevention Apprehension Cooperative Team that s composed of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Phoenix Police Department and the Bureau of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is to deal with the violence related to illegal immigration.
Detectives at Phoenix PD find themselves dealing with people involved in illegal activities that lead them to being targeted for other crimes. The vast majority of our kidnapping victims are criminals being kidnapped by other criminals. It often takes 60 officers to make an arrest. We involve our tactical unit and surveillance teams to attempt to rescue people. The department has a Home Invasion Kidnapping Enforcement (HIKE) Team that comprises a lieutenant, two sergeants and 10 detectives. When the HIKE team was initially being staffed, officers were taken from other assignments. We had to take people out of investigative details, Thompson said.
One issue the detectives confront is the reluctance exhibited by individuals who don t wish to talk to law enforcement because they re involved in criminal activity. The detectives will often negotiate around this. They are reaching out for lifelines. The issues are huge. We re not afraid to address the problems. If you run from your problem and hide, you ll never solve it, Thompson said.
Broad attempts are made to solve crime. We do whatever we can to make it happen. It s a big family the cop shop. We have a problem we re dealing with. We have great support from our county, state and federal prosecutors, Thompson said. Additionally, good sentences are being meted out in court, and a number of the alleged perpetrators of these crimes are pleading to the charges.
Thompson has been employed with the police department for 26 years and has worked in patrol and undercover capacities. He served in the Street Enforcement Squad for 14 years, two years with the Conspiracy Squad and he has 16 years of drug experience. He s well-versed in investigative techniques and knowledge of drugs. He currently serves as the public information officer for the department.
Thompson is forthright and honest with anyone who asks about the kidnappings in Phoenix. It s an issue that we re not afraid to say, hey, we got a problem here, he said. Acknowledgement of the problem is the forerunner of a firm, proactive stance that utilizes various law enforcement components and strategies to combat the issue head on. Assertive in dealing with the criminal element that plagues it communities, the Phoenix Police Department doesn t deny the reality or diminish the extent of the problem. Are you trying to hide it, camouflage it, or [are you] unaware it s happening in your community? Thompson asks.
Thompson receives phone calls from all across the country from people asking him if it s safe to visit Phoenix because they ve heard about the kidnapping issue. Most aren t aware of the nature and circumstances of the individuals surrounding the problematic kidnappings. Thompson tells those who inquire that they re welcome to come and enjoy their visit and that it will likely be an enjoyable and safe one due to the vigilant and responsible enforcement efforts of police officers.
The Phoenix PD faces many challenges in its attempts to combat the complexities that surround the continual kidnappings and home invasions that occur in its area. The department s proactive stance in conjunction with the cooperative and collaborative efforts of other law enforcement agencies is paving the way for making a dent in the proliferation of these crimes and sending a strong message that theywill notbe tolerated.