A father and his 10-year-old son have been arrested in connection with a jewelry theft at the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona, authorities said. The pair allegedly stole more than $7,000 worth of jewelry from the Mesa Contemporary Arts building on a Wednesday afternoon.
According to Mesa police, Jean Zintz, 31, brought his son to the arts center last Wednesday. While the building was closed for an upcoming exhibit, Zintz allegedly forced open a locked door. Once inside, his son reportedly began taking jewelry, including a necklace valued at $2,100, a $3,000 bolo tie, and two bracelets worth a combined $2,250. Zintz also took a Bluetooth speaker and a piece of a cactus.
In an unusual move, the boy allegedly signed his name in the gallery’s visitor log and labeled an artwork he had created in a nearby studio before the items were taken. Police noted that the pair left behind a stainless steel cup.
The father and son returned to the arts center the following day to retrieve the cup. Employees recognized them and contacted the police. The two left before officers arrived, but investigators tracked them to Zintz’s parents’ home in Mesa, where they were staying while visiting from Washington State. They were apprehended during a traffic stop, and a cutting from a totem pole cactus was found in their vehicle.
During questioning, Zintz allegedly admitted to the burglary, stating he planned to take the stolen jewelry back to Washington for a flight he had later that day. A search of their luggage uncovered the stolen jewelry and the clothing worn during the theft, according to police.
Zintz faces felony charges including three counts of burglary in the third degree, three counts of theft, one count of criminal damage, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bail has been set at $40,000 cash only. The 10-year-old was taken to a juvenile facility on burglary charges.