| Thieves Steal Jewels Bound For Gem Show
It's not the best way to showcase Tucson. A gem show dealer had just arrived from California and parked his rental truck near the Marriott Starr Pass resort. That's when thieves went to work, stealing four suitcases full of jewels worth $120,000. The jewelry -- amber stones set in sterling silver -- was in the suitcases in the back of a rental truck when they were stolen. Police are reminding all dealers with merchandise to be extra cautious during this years show. TPD will have extra patrols out for the gem show to hopefully keep away any criminals. If you have any information on the stolen jewelry, you are urged to call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME. .
Automakers suffer February double whammy
DETROIT — Automakers got hit where it hurts in February, with U.S. sales of their most profitable vehicles — trucks, sport utilities and large sedans — plunging as consumers reacted to high gas prices and the possible recession. General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. announced second-quarter production cuts in the face of the falling sales. GM reported a sales decline of almost 13 percent for the month while Ford's sales slumped 7 percent, Chrysler's tumbled 14 percent and Toyota's fell 3 percent. It was expected to be a difficult month for automakers as consumer confidence continued to slide. Declines in home construction also have significantly weakened truck sales. Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president for North American sales and marketing, said tightening automotive credit standards may also be hurting sales.
City nets razing costs
SCHENECTADY Threats of jail time persuaded a local landlord to reimburse the city for the cost of demolishing his fire-damaged house, Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said. Scott McLaughlin, of Troy, made his final payment to the city on Tuesday, paying off the $60,000 cost of removing his rental property at 1851-1853 Van Vranken Ave. When McLaughlin agreed to pay off the bill last October, Van Norden announced it as the first success in the city's new policy of getting arrest warrants to force owners to pay for demolition of their derelict property. Since then, the city has gotten a handful of warrants, Van Norden said, but none has led to a similar agreement. McLaughlin turned himself in when his warrant was issued, but no one else has responded.
|
