3 suspects arrested in connection with West Valley jewelry store burglaries

PHOENIX — Three men were arrested on burglary charges after an investigation into one West Valley jewelry store burglary led to connections with two others, authorities said on Thursday.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into a burglary at a Gold & Gems jewelry store in Sun City on Aug. 14 after video surveillance showed two masked suspects breaking in through a window around 3 a.m.

Suspects smashed display cases with a hammer and filled jewelry into a large red bag then fled on foot, according to MCSO.

Evidence collected at the scene connected one suspect, 41-year-old Gerard Segers, to the burglary. His Dodge Ram pickup truck was also linked to the incident via traffic cameras.

Authorities reviewed footage pertaining to a similar burglary at Litchfield Fine Jewelers on Sept. 6, and fingerprint evidence led them back to Segers.

A black Volkswagen Eos was linked to the crime and after a GPS tracker warrant was obtained, authorities followed the vehicle to a Phoenix residence.

Additionally, the vehicle was tracked to a third burglary, this time in Phoenix at Douglas Diamonds on Sept. 24.

How did authorities apprehend suspects in West Valley jewelry store burglaries?

MCSO SWAT and detectives later obtained a search warrant for the Phoenix residence where Segers was detained, along with 62-year-old Alexander Townsend and 57-year-old Eric Waller.

Stolen jewelry, burglary tools, clothing matching surveillance footage and DNA evidence linking the three suspects to the crimes were among the items recovered at the home and in the vehicles, according to authorities.

The suspects were booked into Maricopa County Jail on multiple charges.

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