Crime Scene: Unique Phoenix business attracts true crime enthusiasts, law enforcement alike
Phoenix store attracts crime fans, law enforcement
Fans of true crime may want to check out a store in Phoenix, which sells items that are often seen at crime scenes, and also caters to real-life detectives at times. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen reports.
PHOENIX - If you love true crime, you may want to check out a store in the Phoenix area.
The store, which is named ‘Crime Scene,' sells items from crime scenes, and its clients range from Hollywood to real-life detectives.
Business began its life online
The backstory:
Tom Arriola started the business online 30 years ago as a way to sell a game to pretend-solve a murder.
"If you buy my fingerprint kit, you can play my detective game for free, and it turned into body bags and evidence bags, and thousands and thousands of products," Arriola said. "We go through several million fingerprint cards every year."
A few years ago, Arriola opened a physical store. Nowadays, his clients come from all walks of life.
Even the FBI.
What they're saying:
"They come in every month or so to purchase gun evidence boxes," Arriola said. "We also get the police departments come in."
Even crime scene cleaners go to the store.
"I came here today to get blood swabs for post clearance," said Britni Burg with Environmental Forensic Consultants.
Arriola still sticking with his original product
While the store sells anything and everything crime lab-related, Arriola still sells the game, with clues to solve a murder.
There is also a more age-appropriate game for kids, with a mission to search for a missing dog.
"They'll learn to use this to analyze footprints," said Arriola.
Big picture view:
The store offers one-of-a-kind, one-stop crime lab shopping, and because of that, Arriola said the door is always open because his customers, like police departments, often need what they need at a moment's notice.
"It's sort of an obligation when someone calls in the middle of the night, and they say ‘I need some fingerprint cards or a body bag for a dead dog or something,’ I come over here and I get it for them 24 hours a day, because there's no other option," said Arriola.