On Thursday, April 14, 2016 at about 3:39 pm 911 dispatchers received a call from a woman who reported a burglary in progress at her home located off of Mount Elden Lookout Road. Upon their arrival responding Deputies made contact with the caller and checked her for injuries. They learned that the victim was not assaulted by the suspect and she was uninjured.

According to the victim she returned home exited her vehicle and observed an adult male as he was leaving her house. She confronted the individual and asked him what he was doing. The suspect who was carrying food items and bottled alcohol apologized and said his car had broken down and asked if he could take one of her vehicles to which the victim said no. The suspect left the area on foot to the west of the residence into a wooded area.

The on-duty Patrol Sergeant began to search the area for the suspect and spoke with several hikers and bikers in the area. Several of the subjects the Sergeant spoke with said they saw a man matching the suspect’s description in a vehicle that was stopped on Schultz Pass Road. The Sergeant went to that area and observed a vehicle alongside the road. He made contact with the driver who was identified as 26 year-old Arthur Zampini originally from Glendale, AZ but currently homeless and transient. Mr. Zampini was similar in appearance to the description of the suspect provided by the victim. Upon questioning Zampini admitted to the burglary and also admitted to driving two of the victim’s vehicles away from the residence only to return them. When asked why he drove the vehicles he replied because they were cool.

After inventorying her home the victim reported that cash, miscellaneous food items and bottled alcohol were missing. Arthur Zampini was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility for one count of second degree burglary, one count of first degree trespass, two counts of unauthorized use of motor vehicle, and one count of cultivation of marijuana.