ST. GEORGE — A tripped security alarm at Red Cliffs Mall brought a rush of law enforcement officers to the J.C. Penney Co. store for a possible burglary in progress early Thursday.
Officers were initially called to the scene after the mall’s security company called the St. George Communications Center just after 6:30 a.m. to report the alarm, St. George Police Department Public Information Officer Lona Trombley said.
The multiagency response was triggered after an officer searching outside the building found a broken window leading into the retail store.
Once the broken window was discovered, additional officers responded to Red Cliffs Mall at 1770 E. Red Cliffs Drive, St. George, to conduct a search of the building and begin an investigation, Trombley said.
More than a dozen St. George Police officers as well as deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office descended upon the area to assist in clearing the building, which would allow the investigation to begin.
“It can take a dozen officers to clear a building of that size,” Trombley said, “because it can be dangerous and the additional help is needed.”
Twenty minutes later the building was cleared and investigators were able to enter the store where they discovered glass merchandise showcases were broken and merchandise was clearly missing.
The amount and value of merchandise that was stolen are undetermined at this point, Trombley said, and investigators are still collecting evidence and statements.
The store was closed at the time of the burglary and remained closed throughout the morning while the investigation progressed inside and outside of the building.
No suspect description or information was available for release at the time of this report.
Police are asking anyone who may have information related to this incident to contact Detective Wyatt Miles at telephone 435-627-4321 and refer to Incident No. 16p025562.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or first responders and may not contain the full scope of findings, and any person(s) arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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