Man set fires at Circle K stores in Phoenix to steal beer, police say

PHOENIX — A 61-year-old man is accused of setting fires at three different convenience stores in Phoenix in order to steal beer, authorities said.

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Dennis Ray Barrett was arrested Sunday and booked the following day on three counts of arson of an occupied structure and four counts of shoplifting, according to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.

According to authorities, Barrett set fire to trash cans inside three different Circle K convenience stores in the Phoenix area, KTVK reported.

Surveillance videos showed a man, later identified as Barrett, setting fire at one Circle K on July 1 and then running out of the store with beer he took without paying for, the television station reported. Police said Barrett allegedly used the same tactic at two different Circle K stores the following day, leaving with beer while employees were distracted by the fires.

According to police, Barrett returned to one of the stores and stole some more beer, but did not use fire as a diversionary tactic, KTVK reported.

In each instance, Barrett allegedly left the stores in a black Ford Edge, the television station reported. Authorities later discovered that the vehicle had been stolen on July 28.

Barrett was arrested after police found him inside the vehicle, according to KTVK.

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