Police: 3 admit stealing plywood from construction site

Two men were arrested after reportedly stealing plywood from a housing construction site in Rancho Mirage, and a juvenile was also involved in the heist, according to Maricopa police.  

At 1:26 a.m. on April 24, Maricopa police stopped a Red Chevrolet Silverado hauling a trailer near West Honeycutt Road and North John Wayne Parkway for criminal speeding and for having no license plate on the trailer. 

The trailer had 88 pieces of plywood, which police estimated to be valued at $1,760. 

Suspect Deariane L. McGill told officers he had a firearm in a holster in his sweatpants waistband.  

Officers asked another occupant, Miguel A. Valencia, about the plywood, and reportedly said he met a man at QuikTrip and made a deal for the plywood. Police said Valencia told them he followed the man to the location of the wood, and responses to additional questioning about the plywood did not make sense.  

All three individuals eventually admitted to stealing the plywood, police said. Valencia provided officers with the location of the theft on North Piccolo Circle using his Apple Maps history. 

According to a probable-cause statement, Valencia told officers he saw the stack of plywood earlier in the day and asked McGill and the juvenile to help steal the wood. Valencia said he was going to use the wood to fix his father’s house. 

McGill told officers he was picked up by Valencia and driven straight to the construction site. McGill said they started loading the wood, and he did not ask any questions. 

McGill was booked into Pinal County jail on suspicion of burglary (3rd degree), trespassing (2rd degree), theft and misconduct involving weapons. 

Valencia was booked into jail on suspicion of burglary (3rd degree), trespassing (3rd degree) and theft. 

Police did not state whether the juvenile was booked or released. Police also did not provide ages or cities of residence of the suspects.