PEORIA, Ariz. — Authorities are asking for the public's help locating the person or persons responsible for stealing a pickup truck from a Peoria home this past weekend.
The Peoria Police Department said the white 2022 GMC Sierra 4-door pickup truck was stolen from a home near 91st Avenue and Beardsley Road around 3 a.m.
“I thought I was in a dream," said the truck's owner, Omer Aquiel.
Aquiel provided video footage to police which shows the suspect vehicle, a white tow truck type vehicle with a black tool compartment on the passenger side, back into the driveway of the home, hook the vehicle up, and then drive away with the truck.
“I had my truck parked there to clear the garage because I have another car there, and that’s where the camera that caught the first noise," Aquiel said.
“I woke up to see what time it was, and I see my alerts from OnStar. I have a flat tire, and my theft alarm was triggered. The first thing I thought was, ‘who is slashing my tire?'"
Aquiel, who works at a car dealership, said the GMC truck is in high demand right now, and that's why he believes the vehicles are being targeted by thieves.
The Chandler Police Department confirms with 12News that they are investigating a similar report.
Police said a vehicle was stolen on July 28 around 12:34 a.m. by a suspect using a tow truck. Detectives said the vehicle has not been recovered, and no information suggests this was a repossession.
The victim provided a photo of the theft to Chandler police.
If anyone has any information regarding these incidents, the tow truck involved, or the individuals involved, they are encouraged to contact police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
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