This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Police say a Kuwaiti national who went to a Taylorsville Golden Arches to steal a small fortune in silver is now behind bars of a less-precious metal, the steel of Salt Lake County Jail.
The 28-year-old man, described by Unified Police as a suspected serial burglar, was arrested Thursday and booked on suspicion of second-degree felony robbery, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of theft and theft of services.
He was being held without bail on Friday on an Adult Probation & Parole order.
UPD Lt. Justin Hoyal said surveillance camera photos of the suspect released earlier this month led to several tips. Police spotted him Thursday morning at the Colonial Village Motel, 1530 S. Main Street in Salt Lake City, and arrested him.
Detectives are exploring other recent burglary and theft crimes in the Salt Lake City area to which the man may be linked.
The current charges stem from a July 2 incident at a McDonald's restaurant, 5571 S. Redwood Road in Taylorsville. The victim, who had advertised his rare silver coins on the Internet, agreed to meet the suspect at the restaurant to complete the sale.
The suspect agreed to buy the coins and walked outside with the victim to the parking lot. Inside a car and behind the steering wheel was another man. The first suspect then told the victim he would need to go to the bank to get enough money for the purchase.
The victim said he would hold onto the coins while the men made the trip, but instead the first man — allegedly the same man now in jail — hopped into the car with the coins and the two suspects drove away.
UPD is asking for the public's help in locating the second suspect, also thought to be of Middle Eastern heritage, in his early 30s and with black hair and tattoos on the right side of his neck and on both arms.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call UPD detectives at 801-743-5950.
Twitter: @remims