Safford Police recover thousands in stolen roofing material – Eastern Arizona Courier

SAFFORD - A March 3 break-in at ABC Supply Company, 1456 E. Highway 70, led to a Safford mans arrest and the recovery of thousands of dollars in roofing material stolen from two businesses after the man reportedly left behind his wallet.

Early that morning, Safford Police officers responded to an alarm at ABC Supply. The store had been burglarized twice this year, with almost $10,000 in roofing material taken.

On March 3, a male subject at the scene apparently escaped by climbing a fence, but responding officers found a vehicle reported stolen parked outside. An ABC Supply employee later found a backpack containing the wallet.

The wallet belonged to a man named Daniel Mendell.

Mendell, 37, was arrested that day by Safford Police. He was charged with trespassing, auto theft and possession of a dangerous drug for meth reportedly found in his trailer. He allegedly admitted having the drug, and using heroin, but denied being at ABC Supply or stealing the vehicle. Mendell allegedly claimed his wallet had been stolen.

However, the case didnt end there.

According to police reports, the investigation tied Mendell to the ABC Supply break-ins and a Dec. 2016 theft of titanium roofing rolls from Rhodes Construction, 1420 S. 1st Ave. Apparently, the reports continued, he had been selling the stolen material locally at a discount.

Safford officers eventually collected over 350 bundles of shingles and a host of other roofing material from several properties. Much of it was found to be from ABC Supply and Rhodes Construction and returned to those businesses, which recovered roughly $11,000 in goods.

Mendell was arrested again March 13 on charges of burglary, theft and trafficking in stolen property.

Follow David Sowders on Twitter @david_sowders

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Safford Police recover thousands in stolen roofing material - Eastern Arizona Courier