06:42 AM Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday, September 4, 2007

3TV and azfamily.com Staff

A report about a stolen car led police to a big drop house in the West Valley.

It happened Monday night at a home near 70th Avenue and Encanto.

Officers were investigating a report of a stolen car when a man came out of the house and told police that people inside were being held against their will.

Nearly 40 illegal immigrants came out of the home.

Investigators were questioning several suspected coyotes.

One man who lives in the area said he couldn't believe this was going on in his neighborhood.

"These people in the neighborhood take of their homes," said John Stephen. "They're hard workers. And. as far as I am concerned, very conscientious people, you know everyday American citizens. You'd think we'd notice something like that."

It's not clear how long the illegal immigrants had been in the house or what the conditions were.

They have been turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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