hbragg@statesboroherald.com
Posted: June 6, 2007 5:47 p.m.
Police arrested a man they said stole a gun from a pawn shop Friday after he returned to the scene of the crime.
Officers charged Aaron Jacob Zacks, 23, Harvey Drive, with burglary, felony theft by taking, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, marijuana possession, and possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone), said Statesboro Police Capt. L. C. Williams, criminal investigations division commander.
Zacks entered Honest John's Pawn Shop on South Main Street just before five p.m. Friday and "reached across the gun counter, removed a Walther .22 caliber hand gun and left the store without paying for it," he said.
The store employee called police, and while Statesboro Police Det. Kelphie Lundy was taking statements from the employee and other witnesses, Zacks returned to the pawn shop, he said.
After a witness identified Zacks as the one who took the gun, Lundy arrested Zacks for the theft, Williams said.
A search of his person revealed a bag of suspected marijuana and a "green pill identified as Oxycodone," he said.
Zacks did not have the .22 on his person, and after obtaining evidence and information, Lundy secured a search warrant for Zack's residence.
The search resulted in police confiscating five guns, including the .22 stolen from the pawn ship; 630 rounds of ammunition, 19 magazine clips, a ballistic vest (bulletproof body armor), several knives, a first aid kit, several MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), and survival gear (flash light, gloves, skully hat), Williams said.
Investigators seized the other four guns and the other items because Zack's having them was "suspicious," Williams said. "With that much ammunition and weapons, and the ... vest, we were mainly trying to find out what he was planning to do."
Officers "are having the guns traced through the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) to determine whether they, also, are stolen."
The other guns in Zacks' home were a .40 caliber Glock, a Glock 9 millimeter, a Desert Eagle .50 caliber hand gun, and a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum, he said.
The ammunition included 478 rounds for a .40 caliber gun; 32 rounds for the .357 Magnum; 50 rounds for a .22, 27 rounds for a .50 caliber hand gun, five rounds for a .32 caliber hand gun and 38 rounds for the 9 millimeter hand gun, he said.
Zacks, who is originally from the Atlanta area, was taken to the Bulloch County Jail, where he is being held without bond, according to jail records.
Williams explained the burglary charge as being because Zacks entered a secured area that was not meant for public access when he took the gun from the case, which is usually kept locked. The shop employee had the case opened as he was showing the guns to customers, and when his back was turned, Zacks grabbed the .22, he said.
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