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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police have again arrested a man with an extensive history of theft and burglary who they say has vowed to continue stealing as soon as he's released from jail.
Anthony Lee Jack, 44, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday for investigation of 12 crimes dating back to Nov. 12, including multiple counts of burglary and theft as well as possession of drugs and burglary tools. Police say he also committed new crimes just before he was arrested.
Police were called to a Smith's grocery store, 455 S. 500 East, Sunday on a report that a man had stolen cleaning supplies and had entered the store's bathroom and was cleaning it. "The caller stated that they asked the subject to leave and that he was hostile towards them — yelling and shouting — which made them fear for their safety. The subject refused to leave," according to a police booking affidavit.
When officers arrived, one of them immediately recognized Jack as the man previously arrested for a burglary at a law office, a break-in at an office belonging to the Utah Attorney General's Office at the Heber M. Wells Building, as well as other burglaries.
In prior arrests, Jack has made statements to officers saying that "when he gets out of jail, he will do it again" and "(police) should book everything for safekeeping because he will be right back out and continue to commit the same crimes," according to two different booking affidavits.
Officers involved in Jack's latest arrest noted that "Jack has stated more than once that if released he will continue to commit burglaries. He has proven that to be the case as he has committed burglaries after he was released on Nov. 26 and Dec. 11."
Jack has typically been released to Pre-Trial Services after being booked into jail, as he was on Dec. 11. Police also noted that "Jack is homeless and has missed court in the past. It is believed that if he is released he will not appear in court on the new charges from Jack's activity for the past month."
Jack was still in the Salt Lake County Jail as of Tuesday morning.
