Tales from the Morgue

Here's a lesson: if you're going to break into cars and steal stuff, don't do it in full view of National Guard members who are MPs.

From the Arizona Daily Star, Monday, June 3, 1968:

Suspected Burglar Adds Realism To MPs Training

A burglar picked the wrong place to steal car stereos yesterday, police said.

Peter Joseph Lane, 21, of 2945 E. Allen, was arrested by four off-duty policemen at the Arizona National Guard, 1750 E. Silverlake Rd., yesterday on suspicion of burglary after the officers, all members of the Guard, said they saw him remove a car stereo and stereo tapes from a car in the parking lot at the Guard armory.

The officers were attending a class on criminal investigation at the time and watched the act through a window. They are members of the 158th Military Police Battalion and were attending their monthly Guard meeting at the time of the attempted theft.

Lane was being held in Pima County jail last night and bond had not been set.

Let's just hope he didn't say, "It's not what it looks like."


Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Johanna Eubank is an online content producer for the Arizona Daily Star and tucson.com. Contact her at jeubank@tucson.com

About Tales from the Morgue: The "morgue," is what those in the newspaper business call the archives. Before digital archives, the morgue was a room full of clippings and other files of old newspapers.