Father and son arrested for stealing over $7,000 in jewelry from Arizona arts center

A father and his 10-year-old son were arrested for allegedly stealing jewelry worth over $7,000 from the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona. Jean Zintz, 31, and his son entered the Mesa Contemporary Arts building, which was closed for preparations for a new exhibit, on August 23, 2026, at around 2 p.m., according to Mesa police. Zintz reportedly broke open a locked door, allowing his son to take several pieces of jewelry, including a $2,100 necklace, a $3,000 bolo, and two bracelets valued at $2,250, totaling $7,350. Additionally, Zintz is accused of stealing a Bluetooth speaker and a piece of a totem pole cactus from the property. Prior to the theft, the child signed the visitor log and labeled an artwork in a neighboring studio. After leaving behind a stainless steel cup, the duo returned the next day to retrieve it, prompting employees to call the police after recognizing them. Although they fled before officers arrived, investigators located them at Zintz's parents' home in Mesa. During a traffic stop, police found the stolen cactus cutting in their vehicle. Zintz allegedly confessed to the burglary, stating he intended to take the stolen items back to Washington State, where he had a flight scheduled for later that day. A search of their luggage revealed the stolen jewelry and clothing worn during the crime. Zintz faces multiple charges, including three counts of burglary in the third degree and theft, along with one count of criminal damage and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bail is set at $40,000 cash-only. The 10-year-old was booked into a juvenile facility on burglary charges.