Entitled Thief Steals Items to Decorate Apartment

On April 19, 2021 around 8:00 p.m., Mesa Police Officers took a commercial theft report from Rancho de Tia Rosa, located at 3129 E. McKellips Rd Mesa, AZ.  The victim told police that he noticed planter pots from the restaurant stacked on top of the patio wall.  When he returned later, he saw a Ford Explorer parked by the wall containing the plater pots from the business.  

The suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Andrew Dinger, was in the driver’s seat of the Explorer and told the victim that his car would not start.  Andrew got out of the vehicle and walked away, leaving the restaurant in another vehicle from the parking lot.  

Officers obtained a search warrant for the Explorer, which was registered to Andrew, and recovered the planter pots.   

When officers arrived at Andrew’s apartment to conduct further follow up, they discovered more stolen items from the restaurant just outside his front door.  These items included additional planter pots, chairs, metal chili vine decorations, metal stars, a sun face decoration, and an apple shaped bird feeder.  The total amount of stolen property valued at $3000, according to the victim.  

Eight days later, on April 27, 2021, officers located Andrew and took him into custody.  He told officers that he took the items from the restaurant because he felt entitled to them.  He explained that he frequents Rancho de Tia Rosa four or more times a week, adding that they have so many items on their patio, he did not think they would even notice.  

Andrew was booked into jail for one count Theft, ARS 13-1802A1, a class 4 felony.