A 31-year-old man is facing felony charges after allegedly breaking into the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona with his 10-year-old son to steal jewelry and a cactus, according to a report published August 26.
Jean Zintz faces charges including burglary, theft, property damage, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and child dependency. Authorities say the theft involved items valued at over $7,000.
According to court documents cited by local media, the incident began around 1:29 p.m. when Zintz and his son arrived at the center in a white Chevrolet Silverado. Surveillance footage captured the pair attempting to enter several closed buildings.
Investigators stated that Zintz allegedly forced open an exterior door to the Mesa Contemporary Arts building. Once inside, the child reportedly took four pieces of jewelry totaling $7,350 in value. The stolen items included a sterling silver necklace valued at $2,100, a silver bolo with a self-portrait valued at $3,000, a $650 bracelet with the inscription Rockstar, and another bracelet identified as Cheii Rockstar valued at $1,600.
The investigation was aided by several clues left at the scene. The child reportedly signed a gallery guest book and signed his name on an artwork in a nearby studio. Additionally, Zintz reportedly left a stainless steel cup inside the facility.
On August 20, the pair returned to the arts center, allegedly to retrieve the forgotten cup. When staff recognized them and attempted to call the police, both individuals fled to their vehicle. Officers intercepted them and found a cactus in the back of the truck, which investigators say was stolen from municipal property.
Detectives later located Zintz and his son at the residence of Zintz's parents in Mesa. During a search, authorities reported finding the stolen items, clothing used during the incident, and other items matching the description provided by Zintz.
According to a probable cause statement, Zintz admitted to being in a location where he was not supposed to be and acknowledged his son had taken the jewelry. He also reportedly admitted to taking the cactus and a Bluetooth speaker belonging to an employee, stating he had planned to travel to Washington that same day with the stolen goods.
