Man broke into Phoenix gun store, stole car and then crashed it: police
PHOENIX - Police say a man has been arrested after he burglarized a gun store before stealing a car and crashing it in north Phoenix.
Just after 2:00 a.m., Phoenix Police says officers learned that a man had stolen a vehicle near 3rd Avenue and Bell Road before crashing it near 7th Street and Greenway Parkway. The man fled the crash scene but was later found and detained.
Before stealing the vehicle, investigators say the suspect was driving another car that he used to break into a store near 5th Avenue and Bell Road.
A gun business was just finished moving to a different location when the incident happened.
"It's just something that we really didn't plan on, or expect to happen [to] a store that's empty," said Marco Stalteri with MLS Arms. "[The suspect] had drove through our gates, our armory and our gunsmithing area to look for firearms or fully-built guns."
Stalteri is now tasked with contacting insurance to get the building repaired.
"Not only the fact of cost of moving to a new location and absorbing those costs, but also now dealing with insurance, cleanup, repair of the building," said Stalteri.
Stalteri has advice for others before they make a decision that could land them behind bars.
"Don't do this to people," said Stalteri. "It's not worth it. People work hard for their things, and when you do these things to people, it hurts, and it's not right. Be better, be better people. Be better."
The suspect has been identified by Phoenix Police officials as 33-year-old Daniel Demar.
"Demar was booked on multiple charges to include burglary and theft of means of transportation," read a portion of a statement released by police.