Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies questioned four people believed to be working together in an effort to shoplift merchandise from the Fountain Hills Target store on Tuesday, March 14.

The two men and two women were released after questioning. One of the men had left the store with a backpack believed to be merchandise he removed. He returned to the store after realizing law enforcement had been called and stashed the backpack. He claimed it was not his when questioned.

The second male was questioned and said he did not know the first suspect. He had merchandise in a hand basket and left it behind.

The two women had a cart with merchandise and both said they did not know the two men. They removed some items from the cart they had and paid for those and left the rest behind.

All four suspects were trespassed from the store and are subject to arrest if they return.

*On Wednesday, March 15, a Fountain Hills man turned in gift cards he had found at the Fountain Hills skate park at Desert Vista. Deputies determined that the found cards were stolen from a vehicle in Tempe in January. They are being used as a possible lead in recent vehicle thefts in the area of Desert Vista Park.

*On Sunday, March 12, a resident of the 28000 block of N. 165th Street in unincorporated Maricopa County reported someone had damaged a window, apparently with BB gun shot. The incident occurred between Feb. 15 and March 12 and damage is estimated at $300.

*On Thursday, March 16, deputies took into custody a transient man with two outstanding warrants from the Fountain Hills municipal court.

*On Thursday, March 16, a Fountain Hills man reported that someone attempted to use his personal identification to open multiple credit card accounts.

*On Thursday, March 16, deputies were called to the area near 164th Street and Dixileta Road where members of a Salt River Project power crew reported they had been harassed and threatened by a man who claimed they were on his property. The white male suspect reportedly told the men to “go back to their own country,” and said he would “tear down their houses.” Deputies were unable to locate the suspect.

*On Thursday, March 16, deputies received a disorderly conduct report from two women who had been walking their dogs along Palomino Boulevard. One of the dogs is blind and jumped as a man on a bicycle passed them. The male bicyclist began yelling at the women about them “not controlling their dogs.” The man was not immediately located.

*On Thursday, March 16, a man reported a hand gun missing from his vehicle after he had work done at a tire shop on Shea Boulevard in Fountain Hills. The gun has an estimated value of $550. Store management was cooperative with deputies, but the weapon was not found.

*On Friday, March 17, a Fountain Hills man reported that someone had attempted to file taxes using his personal identification.

*On Saturday, March 18, a resident of the 13000 block of Fountain Hills Boulevard reported a bicycle stolen valued at $450.

*On Saturday, March 18, a guest at a Fountain Hills hotel reported a purse stolen from her room with a value of $300.

*On Friday, March 17, a resident of the 15000 block of Desert Willow Drive reported a burglary at his home, and he believes his son is responsible. He reported a rifle valued at $350, a 12-gauge shotgun valued at $200 and keys missing from the home.

*On Sunday, March 19, deputies received a report of a burglary from a vehicle in the 14000 block of Golden Eagle Boulevard. The vehicle was parked at the trailhead parking lot outside the Eagles Nest entry gate. The owner had been hiking and reported the front passenger window smashed and items taken included a purse, laptop bag, laptop and other items with a value totaling $2,200.

*On Tuesday, March 21, a resident reported his vehicle was broken into while parked in the driveway of a home in the 11000 block of Garland Circle. Several items were removed including tools, CDs and binoculars. The man was uncertain whether he locked the vehicle.

On Thursday, March 16, a Fountain Hills man reported the license plate missing from his RV.