Audio By Carbonatix
A family of “brazen” beer thieves’ reign of terror over Tempe Circle K convenience stores has come to an end.
The alleged thieves, Antonio Coronado Tavena, 34, Elizabeth Tavena, 30, Manuel Tavena, 23, Isabel Nunez, 30, and Jessica Coronado, 24, are all either cousins or siblings, and police say they’re responsible for 23 beer thefts in a little over a month.
From April 8, to May 8, police say, the family stole about $7,000 worth of 30-packs of beer from Tempe Circle Ks.
The thefts weren’t exactly sophisticated, either.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
Steve Carbajal, a sergeant in the Tempe Police Department, tells New Times the suspects would basically just walk into a store, grab a few 30-packs, and walk out the door.
“They were pretty brazen,” Carbajal says.
According to police, the suspects admitted they would sell the beer, or, in some cases, trade it for crystal meth.
Carbajal says no force was used in the thefts.
Because the thefts were organized — that is, as organized as simply swiping 30-packs of beer from a convenience store can possibly be — the charges against the suspects are more serious than standard theft.
Together, the suspects face 93 felony charges for their involvement in an “organized retail theft ring.”
