Anthem appliance thief tear‑gassed
by Kathleen Stinson

ANTHEM – Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies say they are continuing their 10‑month investigation into a rash of appliance thefts from homes under construction in Anthem.

A Maricopa County judge in June sentenced Joel Gabbard, 35, of New River, to three years probation after he pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge relating to Anthem appliance thefts, and MCSO believes there may be others involved.

Gabbard was arrested Feb. 24 after deputies found an unspecified number of stolen appliances in his residence along Old Black Canyon Highway, said Detective Sgt. Ken Swingle.

Swingle explained the appliances–new washers, dryers, microwave ovens, stoves and refrigerators–were taken from newly constructed homes before the new homeowners moved in. About 100 appliances in total have been stolen, he said.

Swingle stated that tracing the stolen appliances is difficult because of the high volume of tradesmen going in and out of the housing development in the course of doing their work.

In late October of last year, The Desert Advocate reported that three men were arrested and admitted they were part of an appliance burglary after an attentive neighbor noticed a van parked in the driveway of the vacant home on a Sunday afternoon and alerted authorities.

At that time MCSO Sgt. Joe Sousa cautioned residents, “This is an ongoing thing, happening all over the Valley. People who live next to neighborhoods under construction, if they notice things like delivery trucks after hours –even if the guys have matching shirts–be suspicious of it and give us a call.”

Sheriff’s deputies came across Gabbard in the course of investigating an unrelated domestic violence call involving Gabbard and an unidentified woman arguing in a car, Swingle said. The deputies arrested Gabbard and offered to give the woman a ride home. While in the couple’s home, located in the 46000 block of North Old Black Canyon Highway, a deputy noticed there were a number of new appliances in the “not so upscale home,” according to Swingle.

After obtaining a search warrant, MCSO personnel searched Gabbard’s residence and found a number of stolen appliances, some of which were stored in the dwelling and others which were installed. Deputies had to fire a tear gas cannister into the residence because the occupants refused to answer the door when MCSO arrived with the search warrant, Swingle related.

Swingle said the investigation is ongoing because Gabbard, upon questioning,  “brought a few other names into the equation.”

Pulte Homes spokeswoman Crystal Patriarche said the company has nothing to add to the story.

Gabbard’s probation is set to run concurrently with his probation in another case, said Krystal Garza, spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who notices any suspicious activity around new homes to call MCSO at (602) 876‑1000.

Reach the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.