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Quick-thinking deputy helps recover stolen items

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Posted 7:34 AM 2/24/2012 : Quick-thinking deputy helps recover stolen items

TUCSON- It's a common story: a car is broken into and everything is stolen, including credit cards. Typically that's the end of it, but not this time.

On Monday night, a University of Arizona student's car was broken into. A purse containing credit cards, a phone, and watch were stolen.

Pima County Sheriff's deputies responded as one of those cards was being used across the street. The deputy quickly acted on the lead, and arrested the person.

Raven, who asked her last name not be used, and a friend were taking a 90-minute class at Bikram Yoga on Oracle Road. When the class was over, she discovered the passenger's window was broken and items were stolen.

The girls canceled the credit cards and called the sheriff's department. The credit card company told them there had been a $350.00 charge at TJ Maxx, a store located just across the street. Deputy Thomas Audetat spoke to the manager.

"The person that tried to use it was actually just leaving the store. So, I quickly got back out to my patrol car and made a traffic stop on that vehicle, " Deputy Audetat said.

He found three people in the car. He arrested 27-year-old Rachael Leeann Heatley.
Deputy Audetat says, "I found credit cards from the victim as well as a driver's license and a Cat Card [student I.D.] from the victim as well."

Heatley was booked into the Pima County Jail and charged with possession of stolen property and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Still missing are a purse, iPhone, a watch and some car keys. Raven is hoping to get those items returned, but more important, she's glad there was an arrest.

"It's good to know that they are taken care of and found so they don't continue doing this," she said.

Deputy Audetat says, keep your purse and valuables in your trunk, and place them there before you leave your home.

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