ASH FORK, Ariz. - A trio of burglars struck it big when they allegedly stole a pool table and a gas-powered generator from a home on the market in Ash Fork, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
But, just days after the robbery, the victim used his own detective skills and found his pool table. It was on Craigslist.
After speaking with the victim, detectives located the ad. It was posted on Sept. 1, offering a pool table for $300. The ad also had a contact phone number as well as a man with tattoos in one of the Craigslist photos, sitting off to the side smoking a cigarette and the photo also showed a white pickup truck.
Detectives found witnesses, who were in the area browsing homes at the time of the robbery. The witnesses said they saw three males with the pool table loaded into a white pickup truck. They were shown photos from the Craigslist ad and recognized one of the men from the home at Ash Fork where the items were stolen, according to YCSO.
The license plate of the white pickup was covered with a rag during the robbery.
The detectives made contact with the people selling the pool table on Craigslist and arranged a meeting with the seller in the 1100 block of Poco Lane in Chino Valley. The seller was identified as Michael Walters, 23, of Prescott Valley.
Detectives saw the stolen pool table, left and returned with a search warrant. Michael Walters was no longer at the property, but was located quickly in the 1100 block of W. Justray Ranch Rd. in Chino Valley along with 42-year-old Edward Walters of Prescott Valley and 21-year-old Chester Buntin of Chino Valley, both were also suspects in the robbery.
According to YCSO, Michael Walters claimed he had permission from a third party to take the property from the Ash Fork home and asked Edward Walters, his father, and Buntin to help him.
The pool table and the white pickup truck were seized. The three suspects were booked at Camp Verde Detention Center.
Michael Walters is being held on charges of burglary and trafficking in stolen property with a $5,000 bond. Edward Walters is charged with burglary and has a bond of $3,000. Buntin is charged with burglary, trafficking in stolen property and possession of a controlled substance and has a bond of $5,000.
YCSO asks anyone with further information on these suspects related to crime or illegal activity to contact YCSO Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
