PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – Police have arrested a man who allegedly committed multiple arson attacks at multiple Phoenix Circle K locations. Police arrested 61-year-old Dennis Ray Barrett on August 28 after allegedly setting fire to trash cans in three different Circle K stores in the Phoenix area. Investigators believe he started the fires to create a distraction so he could steal alcohol. On July 31, Barrett reportedly set fire to a trash can in a Circle K near Broadway Road and 32nd Avenue. Police say surveillance videos were recorded of Barrett starting a fire and then walking out of the store with stolen beer. He could leave while the cashier was distracted by the fire. Police said Barrett used the same tactic on Aug. 1 at two Circle K locations on Southern Avenue with cashiers handling the fires. Barrett returned to one of the stores on Southern Avenue on August 20th. He was reportedly stealing beer for the fourth time, but police said he did not use fire as a distraction. On each of these incidents, Barrett allegedly walked out of the shops in a black Ford Edge. Police later learned that the car had been reported stolen on July 28. Police arrested Barrett on August 22 after officers found him in the stolen car. Investigators say he admitted he was the one on the surveillance video. Barrett is faced with triple arson of an occupied building and quadruple shoplifting. Copyright 2021 KPHO / KTVK (KPHO Rundfunkgesellschaft). All rights reserved.
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