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Police arrest man after burglarizing Mesa car wash three times

Posted at 8:46 PM, Sep 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-22 01:53:14-04

One burglar in Mesa couldn’t stop going back to the same business and police said it got him busted.

Mesa police arrested Scott Owensby after they say he spent most of September stealing security cameras from the Dolphin Car Wash.

The thefts started on September 1. 

“I’m just thinking, ‘What the heck are you doing,’” said Dolphin Car Wash owner Terry Johnson, after watching surveillance video of the suspect stealing his surveillance cameras.

The first time police claim Owensby stole two security cameras. Just a few days later, he came back and took two more. Security footage even shows Owensby climbing some pipe work to get on top of the building.

“I’m just thinking after 4 cameras — that’s a bold guy,” exclaimed Johnson.

But the suspect wasn’t done. Mesa police said Owensby came back a third night. He ripped six cameras off the car wash in all. Each camera costs $150. 

“That's what hurts the small business guy a lot of times; those little thefts that aren't of extremely large value.”

But stealing security cameras has a big drawback — it leaves lots of evidence and Mesa police arrested Owensby on Tuesday. According to court paperwork, he admitted to stealing and selling all six.  

The court papers also said Owensby was on probation for a burglary conviction in 2015.