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Suspects caught following 'professional criminal enterprise'
PHOENIX - A sophisticated burglary crew has been arrested for thefts at 9 different Family Dollar stores and one KFC in the Valley.
The Phoenix Police Department calls their work a "professional criminal enterprise" because of the planning and organization involved.
The two alleged criminals had their plan down to a science. That is until Phoenix detectives caught on to the string of burglaries that landed them in jail.
From February to September, Phoenix Police say Yosvanys Perez Martinez and Alexei Torres Alvarez targeted Family Dollar stores and a KFC to steal money in safes.
Court records show the men surveilled the stores, and even dressed as police officers to make any potential witnesses leave the area.
With the stores empty, they allegedly cut the power and used tools to break in the back doors. Once inside, they would reportedly disable the alarms, wear masks and gloves, and use chemicals to destroy any trace of DNA showing they were there.
The duo allegedly used special tools to open or remove the safes.
Their crime spree came to an end last month when Phoenix Police caught wind of the burglaries.
Family Dollar employees noticed the suspects' Chevy Impala parked in the front with the lights and engine on and told police. Then an undercover cop matched the car with one connected to the burglaries.
Detectives say cell phone data shows both Martinez and Alvarez at the scene of the crime for nine different stores.
On Oct. 4, the department's dive team recovered a safe the two men were seen throwing in the river the day before, matching one stolen from a Family Dollar.
Martinez and Alvarez were arrested and face several burglary charges. Police say they stole $315,000 and caused around $150,000 worth of damage. Their next court date is Oct. 10.
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