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Suspect tied to 10 PHX, Mesa rooftop burglaries

Posted at 5:24 PM, Feb 16, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-16 21:02:01-05

An alert security guard is credited with helping police catch a suspect tied to 10 rooftop burglaries across Mesa and Phoenix.

 

 

 

Court documents reveal that around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, a security guard at the Latter-day Saints temple near 2nd Avenue and Mesa Drive was making his rounds when he heard what sounded like a circular saw coming from the distribution center next door.

Mesa police officers responded and heard someone moving around in the ceiling tiles. Alexander Reagan Andersen then came out of a hole cut in the roof and was promptly taken into custody.

Police say Andersen was found with the saw, three saw blades and a pry bar.

Andersen has been tied to several other burglaries in Mesa and Phoenix where a suspect gained entry by cutting a hole in the roof. Police said all of the incidents happened between Christmas Eve and Feb. 3.

According to court documents, Deseret Industries in Phoenix was hit four times and on two of those occasions Andersen got away with $5,700 in cash. The last time he broke into Deseret Industries the manager had a fake safe put in and Andersen got nothing for his efforts.

Andersen is also accused of stealing cigarettes from the University Farmers Market, and causing damage at two pawn shops.stole cigarettes when he entered the University Farmers Market.

All locations had cuts into the roof from where Andersen entered the businesses.

Police said Andersen was on parole after being released from prison on Dec. 15 for aggravated assault and trafficking stolen property.