Four men have been arrested in connection with a burglary at a Lindon gun store that resulted in the theft of over 70 firearms, power tools, and other items.
The theft occurred between December 28 and 29, when police say suspect Edgar Cortez Mesa, 36, was captured on surveillance footage loading stolen guns and other goods into a truck. Authorities tracked him to a residence in American Fork, where they arrested him and another suspect, Carlos Andres Raimondi-Perez, 44.
A search of the truck and home revealed stolen guns. Cortez Mesa admitted to having six stolen firearms inside the house. Meanwhile, a third suspect, Alec Jesse Jones, 36, was arrested when he arrived at the scene, pulling a trailer filled with 60 more stolen weapons. Jones claimed he didn’t know what was in the trashcans he had been asked to transport.
David Edward Boettcher, 56, was also arrested after investigators determined he had acted as a lookout during the burglary. He later helped unload the stolen property and received a firearm from Cortez Mesa.
The four men face serious charges, including burglary, theft of firearms, and possession of stolen property. All suspects have been booked into the Utah County Jail, with charges still pending.
Charges against the suspects include:
Edgar Cortez Mesa: 3rd-degree burglary, 71 counts of 2nd-degree theft of a firearm or motor vehicle, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, and drug-related charges.
Carlos Andres Raimondi-Perez: 2nd-degree theft of a firearm, drug-related charges.
Alec Jesse Jones: 60 counts of 2nd-degree theft of a firearm or motor vehicle, drug-related charges.
David Edward Boettcher: 3rd-degree burglary, 2nd-degree theft of a firearm.
Authorities continue their investigation into the full scope of the crime.
