Father and Son Arrested After Burglary at Arizona Arts Center

A father and his 10-year-old son found themselves in quite the predicament after allegedly burglarizing an arts center in Arizona. It’s reported that the young boy managed to swipe jewelry valued at over $7,000 — all while leaving his name in the center’s visitor log.

Jean Zintz, 31, took his son with him to the Mesa Arts Center last Wednesday. They entered the Mesa Contemporary Arts building, which was closed for preparations for an upcoming exhibit, around 2 p.m., according to local authorities.

Breaking through a locked door, Zintz’s son began grabbing various pieces of jewelry. This included a “Trouble” necklace worth $2,100, a self-portrait bolo priced at $3,000, and two “Rockstar” bracelets with a total value of $2,250. Court documents indicate this all totaled up to $7,350.

As if that weren’t enough, Zintz reportedly also took a Bluetooth speaker and a section of a totem pole cactus from the center, as noted by the police.

Curiously, before they launched into their criminal acts, the 10-year-old signed the visitor log and even labeled a piece of artwork he’d made in a nearby studio, which really raises some eyebrows.

In an interesting twist, during the burglary, they left behind a stainless steel cup. The next day, they returned to retrieve it, which is when employees recognized them and called law enforcement.

Although they managed to leave before the police could arrive, investigators traced them to Zintz’s parents’ home in Mesa, where they were staying while visiting from Washington State.

Police caught up with them during a traffic stop and found the stolen cactus cutting in their vehicle. Zintz allegedly confessed to the burglary, claiming he intended to take the stolen items back to Washington, where he already had a flight booked for later that day.

A search of their belongings revealed the stolen jewelry and clothing worn during the crime, according to the authorities.

Zintz faces several charges, including three counts of third-degree burglary and theft, one charge of criminal damage, and one of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He has a bail set at $40,000. Meanwhile, his son has been placed in a juvenile facility on burglary charges.