Crime concerns Arivaca residents

A meeting will be held at the Arivaca Community Center on Monday evening, hosted by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, to discuss the recent string of burglaries in the area.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be attended by representatives from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s Green Valley patrol district, its Border Crimes Unit, Burglary Unit and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Many of the break-ins are suspected to be linked with illegal migrant activity, according to reports.

“The purpose of the meeting is for community members to come together to get information about what’s going on in reference to the burglaries, and to develop a community plan on how to solve this problem,” said Lt. Leonard Pratt of the Green Valley District Office. Pratt said the district has been able to beef up its presence in Arivaca over the last few months in response to the crimes and that most welcome the increased law enforcement.

“At a town meeting last year, I had one man tell me, ‘The only time I want to see a deputy is when I call for one,’ but he was met with shouts and people telling him to sit down. The majority of people in Arivaca welcome us.”

“We’re trying our hardest with the staff we’re provided, and hopefully at the meeting we’ll be able to set some goals to combat this problem.”

The Arivaca Community Center, at 16012 Universal Ranch Rd., can be reached at 398-3010.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726