REDDING: Man arrested with stolen merchandise after sporting goods store burglary

REDDING — A man who officials say broke into a sporting goods store by gaining access through the roof was arrested by a sharp-eyed officer who spotted him nearby while investigating the burglary, Wednesday, Jan. 10. The early morning burglary happened at Sportsman’s Warehouse at 1659 Hilltop Drive, south of Highway 44 and west of Churn Creek Road, in Redding.

After an investigation officers arrested Daniel Francis Burger, 30, of Redding. Burger the burglar was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of commercial burglary, possession of stolen property and violation of probation, Redding Police Sergeant Shawn McGinnis explained after the arrest.

Officers were dispatched to the sporting goods store just before 1:30 a.m., after receiving an alarm activation call at the business. According to the alarm company that reported the break in, one of the store’s exterior door alarms were tripped as the burglar fled the business.

Officers arrived within minutes and with the assistance of a Redding PD K-9 conducted a search of the store and confirmed the business had been burglarized. During their interior search officers determined the suspect was no longer at the location. While officers were checking the inside of the business a California Highway Patrol helicopter checked the business’ roof, but found nobody hiding.

During their investigation officials determined entry into the store had been made after the suspect, later identified as Burger, had forced open a roof access point.

As the investigation was continuing an officer who had responded to the area to assist spotted a “suspicious subject” wearing a backpack in the area of Canby Road and Dusty Lane, according to McGinnis.

Burger, who was acting “nervous” and by himself, “was wearing soaking wet pants, which indicated he may have crossed the drainage ditch between Sportsman’s Warehouse and Canby Road, or perhaps fled through wet vegetation,” said McGinnis.

Officers detained Burger for further investigation, at which time they determined he was on felony probation in Shasta County and was subject to search terms.

During a subsequent search officers found Burger was in possession of merchandise apparently stolen from Sportsman’s Warehouse during the reported burglary, according to McGinnis, who said officers found the stolen property inside Burger’s backpack.

Officers later viewed surveillance footage from the burglarized business, which showed the burglary being committed by a man whose face was covered.

While viewing the footage, officers realized that in spite of concealing his face, Burger was wearing the same shoes and backpack as the man seen burglarizing the store.

Based on their investigation, officers arrested Burger.

Anyone with information about this investigation or with information about Burger’s alleged illegal activity is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-2434 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.