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TAYLORSVILLE — Police say a man cut his way into a T-Mobile store Monday in order to steal cellphones and tablets.
Salvador Contreras, 35, used a saw, crowbar and other tools to cut through the wall at the store, 5443 S. Redwood Road, then proceeded to fill two duffel bags with phones, tablets and other items, according to Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal.
In the process, Contreras set off a motion detecting alarm in the store, and police arrived about 4:45 a.m. just as Contreras was driving away from the business, Hoyal said.
One officer followed Contreras in his vehicle while another officer discovered the hole in the wall at the cellphone store. Contreras parked his car on nearby Smiley Drive and attempted to walk away, leaving his tools and his take behind, Hoyal said. That's when he was arrested.
In the car, police found the bags packed with more than $23,000 worth of new iPhones, tablets, headphones and other devices, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Contreras was booked into jail for investigation of burglary, theft, possession of burglary tools and multiple outstanding misdemeanor warrants.
Contreras is also facing shoplifting charges filed in November, according to state court records.
