Crime doesn't pay. According to Fox 10 Phoenix, Daniel Jacob Thompson and Michael Charles Hummel have been arrested after allegedly stealing around $93,000 worth of belongings from a storage unit used by former MLB player Daniel Johnson and his fiancée, Alison Wysong.
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"Police say the two suspects were attempting to sell a pair of shoes at a pawn shop when an employee recognized the pair from the surveillance photos and called authorities," Fox 10 reports. "The victims, Daniel Johnson and his fiancée Alison, say they're more upset about the sentimental value of things taken more than anything else."
The theft is believed to have taken place on Sept. 27 at a storage facility near 24th Street and Campbell Avenue in Phoenix. Stolen items reportedly included high-end purses, collector's shoes, laptop computers and MLB player-issued gear belonging to Johnson.
"A lot of the other things were replaceable. But when it comes to the baseball... apparel and memorabilia that I had for over my 10 years... it really was a gut buster. Because I knew that unless I played for all those teams, there's no guarantee that I get that stuff back," Johnson told Fox 10 Phoenix. "...Very personal to me to, you know, to give back to the kids. Cause I once was those little kids, you know."
A Pawn Shop Led to Two Arrests in the MLB Player's Storage Unit Burglary
Thompson and Hummel were reportedly apprehended after a pawn shop employee recognized the duo from a police flier. The employee then contacted authorities. A subsequent search warrant executed at the suspects' home turned up evidence connected to the theft, according to police.
"Shoes. Laptop computers. And MLB gear belonging to this victim with his name and number on it," Sgt. Sheree Lee told Fox 10. "It wasn't targeted in any way... they were going through the facility...breaking locks to get inside."
Police said Thompson and Hummel allegedly broke into several storage units at the facility, meaning Johnson and Wysong may not have been the only victims. Authorities are asking anyone else who was affected to come forward.
"It does sound like people really have been impacted, not just us. And we're hoping that our story is the one that really nails the guys and that everybody else can really get their belongings back as well," Wysong said.
Thompson and Hummel have appeared in court and are also facing multiple felony charges. The investigation remains ongoing.
