Phoenix has seen a wave of jewelry store heists, but law enforcement recently made a breakthrough with the arrest of three men. Gerard Segers, Alexander Townsend, and Eric Waller now face multiple charges after burglaries that stole thousands of dollars from stores in Phoenix and the West Valley. ABC15 reports the trio was caught using DNA, fingerprints, surveillance footage, and a GPS tracking warrant.
The suspects were linked to the break-ins through evidence detailed in court documents. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and azfamily.com, surveillance footage from August 14 showed a red bag filled with stolen jewelry at a store on R.H. Johnson Boulevard and Camino Del Sol. A droplet of blood and traffic camera footage of Segers’ Dodge Ram helped investigators trace him to the heist.
Further thefts occurred on September 2 and 6 in Litchfield Park. Law enforcement tracked a black Volkswagen using a GPS tracker. Court records obtained by ABC15 show surveillance footage of four individuals arriving in the vehicle, with three entering the store and one remaining outside as a lookout.
During a search of Segers’ Phoenix home, investigators found evidence linked to the burglaries. ABC15 reports they recovered nine jewelry tags from victim stores, black pillowcases, a sledgehammer, and an SCCY handgun. Waller, who initially gave the name Sean Sims, was identified through fingerprints, and his DNA was found on a skull-faced mask at the scene.
Law enforcement tracked the GPS-monitored Volkswagen to a Phoenix residence and arrested three men on site. Investigators recovered stolen jewelry valued at about $7,000, along with burglary tools and related clothing. According to a sheriff’s office news release cited by azfamily.com, all three men were booked into Maricopa County Jail on burglary and theft charges.
