Phoenix Police Bust Suspects in Family Dollar Burglary Spree, Recover Nearly $315K

​After months of coordinated burglaries targeting Family Dollar stores across Phoenix and Glendale, authorities have arrested two suspects responsible for stealing approximately $315,000 and causing around $150,000 in property damage.

The duo, identified as 34-year-old Yosvanys Martinez and 40-year-old Alexei Alvarez, were apprehended following an extensive city-wide investigation involving multiple specialized units.

Since March 2024, nine Family Dollar locations have been victims of a string of commercial burglaries. The suspects would cut power to the stores, disable video surveillance, and enter through a rear access door. Once inside, they would steal the entire safe or break into it to access the cash.

The turning point came in mid-September when Phoenix PD's Crime Analysis and Research Unit (CARU) utilized predictive analytics to narrow down likely future targets. This led to identifying several high-probability locations, including a Family Dollar store in west Phoenix.

On September 27, investigators made a breakthrough when they identified a potential suspect vehicle. Two days later, a vehicle matching that description was observed at two Family Dollar locations, with investigators linking the car to Yosvanys Martinez. The vehicle had also been spotted near several other stores that had been previously burglarized.

By Sept. 30, surveillance teams were closely monitoring Martinez and Alvarez. The pair was observed casing a Family Dollar store after business hours, but their attempt to gain entry failed.

On October 3, investigators secured digital evidence linking the suspects to all nine Family Dollar burglaries and a February break-in at a local KFC. Later that night it was believed the suspects discarded potential evidence in the Gila River. The Phoenix PD Dive Team recovered two safes believed to be related to the series of burglaries.

On Oct. 4, Martinez and Alvarez were arrested. Search warrants at their homes and vehicles uncovered $40,000 in cash, burglary tools, security uniforms, and additional evidence linking them to the crimes. Additional evidence believed to be related to other crimes was also located.

Both suspects were booked on multiple burglary charges, concluding a months-long investigation that spanned several precincts and involved the efforts of numerous specialized teams, including PPD's Crime Analysis and Research Unit (CARU), Tactical Support Bureau (TSB), Dive Team, the Phoenix PD Crime Lab and Desert Horizon Precinct's Real Time Operations Center (RTOC).

"This is a prime example of internal cooperation department-wide," said Sergeant Michael Hayes. "The resources it took to identify the suspects, locate additional evidence, safely apprehend them, search the various locations and process those scenes."

"I want to thank everyone involved in this investigation," said Property Crimes Bureau Commander Shane Disotell. "This truly was a department-wide effort to stop a crime trend committed by criminals that thought out how and when they committed their crimes."

"This was outstanding detective work by the team on this case," Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro said. "The collaboration between all units involved to catch these criminals was extremely impressive to watch."

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