An employee at a Salt Lake dealership’s auto overall body store has been criminally charged for allegedly stealing guns out of two autos that experienced been dropped off to be serviced. (Konstantin Savusia, Shutterstock)
Believed examine time: 2-3 minutes
SALT LAKE Metropolis — Law enforcement have warned citizens in new months about leaving guns in their cars, noting the spike in weapons becoming stolen during motor vehicle burglaries.
That warning should really also be used when dropping off a automobile to be serviced, police say.
An personnel at a Salt Lake dealership’s vehicle entire body store is struggling with legal charges following allegedly thieving guns out of two motor vehicles introduced in for assistance more than the past year.
Bryan Rex Bunge, 40, of South Salt Lake, was charged Monday in 3rd District Courtroom with two counts of theft of a firearm, a next-diploma felony.
In accordance to charging documents, Bunge labored at Ken Garff Car Body, 20 E. 900 South. On Aug. 25, a pickup truck was dropped off for services. Two staff members checking the car discovered a handgun in the glove box and a wallet that contained a Salt Lake Honorary Colonel badge, the expenses state.
The manager at the store afterwards explained to an personnel to retrieve the gun from the car to put in safekeeping. But when the employee went again to the glove box, the gun was gone, according to the prices.
Bunge was named as a probable suspect after stability surveillance movie was reviewed, the charges state. A Unified police officer questioned Bunge on Sept. 2, but he denied having the weapon, in accordance to police.
On Oct. 13, users of the Unified police SWAT team, Significant Investigations Device and Violent Crimes Unit served a search warrant on Bunge’s home. A Glock handgun that was noted stolen in 2021 from a further auto at the same car overall body store was recovered, the charges state.
“Even though en route to the jail, (an officer) advised Bunge that they experienced found a Glock 17 on his kitchen table, and it was listed as stolen from his location of employment about 1 year prior,” the charges state. “His response: ‘Okie dokie.'”
The other handgun, which includes a Salt Lake County Sheriff’s insignia, remained lacking as of Wednesday.
A choose has purchased Bunge to be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the risk of publishing bail pending his up coming court listening to.
Unified police say the incident is a excellent reminder to gun homeowners to under no circumstances depart their weapons unattended in their motor vehicles, no matter whether it’s due to the fact that vehicle is currently being dropped off at a fix store or even if the human being is going into a grocery retail outlet or just parking their auto in their garage at night.
“If you’re not going to be in your vehicle, you should not depart your gun in your motor vehicle,” claimed Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler.
