Sentencing of a notorious burglar, a shocking attack on a resident by a burglar and a serious hazardous materials incident highlighted the year 2013 for public safety news.

Robert Neese, the man whose long career in burglary came to an end here in Fountain Hills in 2011, was sentenced in May 2013 after a conviction and guilty plea on burglary charges.

Neese was snared by a Sheriff’s Office dragnet the night of May 15, 2011 when a resident called 911 after seeing a man hide in the bushes as the Sheriff’s helicopter was flying overhead.

MCSO detectives were investigating a series of burglaries and believe Neese is responsible for as many as 60 break-ins in Fountain Hills.

Ultimately Neese pleaded guilty to charges connected to two incidents in Fountain Hills. One is a class 3 felony burglary charge and one class 6 felony possession of burglary tools.

Officials believe Neese was responsible for more than 300 burglaries in the Northeast Valley dating back to 1993, for which he was dubbed the “rock burglar.”

In July there was the shocking attack on long-time Fountain Hills resident and well-known Realtor Susan Dawson at her home on Lema Circle.

On the morning of July 29 Dawson was returning home from a workout when she entered her house and surprised a burglar inside.

The suspect punched her and tied her up. After the suspect fled, she was able to free herself and call for help.

Dawson and Sheriff’s Office officials pleaded with the public to help anyway they can and provide information about anyone they might believe was responsible.

The input from the public was substantial, but ultimately fruitless. Just a few weeks ago MCSO District Commander, Capt. Joe Rodriquez reported detectives had exhausted their leads and were asking the public for additional help.

Those with information they want to pass along to law enforcement may do so through this entirely anonymous system.

Tips may be phoned to 480-WITNESS (948-6377), or 1-800-343-TIPS (8477), information may be sent by text message using “silent” plus the information message to CRIMES (274637).

Businesses at Saguaro and Shea boulevards were evacuated early Sunday morning, Nov. 7, after a gasoline tanker ruptured and spilled an estimated 2,300 gallons of its cargo.

The tanker truck struck a post between the McDonald’s restaurant and Circle K, tearing a hole in the tank. Possibly due to the early morning hour, about 1 a.m., it was fortunate that ignition and explosion of the gasoline was avoided.

Fire department and hazmat crews from several surrounding cities were on the scene for hours transferring remaining fuel to another truck and assessing damage and the extent of the spill.

The gasoline flowing out of the tanker crossed Trevino Drive and ran along Saguaro Boulevard for about half a mile before entering a culvert that crossed under Saguaro and into a wash on the other side.

Much of the gasoline settled in the wash at the end of the culvert.

As the year ends, more than six weeks after the spill, the clean-up process is continuing.