Utah man arrested for allegedly entering business through ceiling, stealing cash and drinks

HURRICANE, Utah ( ABC4 ) — A Utah man was arrested on Monday, Oct. 1 for his alleged involvement in a dollar store burglary in La Verkin — and he was later connected to a similar laundromat burglary case from July.

Patrick Joseph Wilson, 36, was arrested on one count of property damage/destruction of greater than $5,000, a second-degree felony; burglary, a third-degree felony; theft of between $1,500 and $4,999, a third-degree felony; and retail theft of less than $500, a class B misdemeanor.

After his arrest, Wilson was questioned about the dollar store burglary on Sept. 29. According to arrest documents, Wilson admitted to entering the business through the ceiling, removing the safe from the store, and taking two drinks from the store.

Police said the safe itself was worth $2,500, and there was $2,485 in cash within the safe. Wilson reportedly cut through “part of the air conditioning [unit] to sneak into the business” and damaged the alarm system.

Wilson caused more than $7,500 in damage at the dollar store, according to police. Wilson had warrants out for his arrest and admitted to “theft retail taking a bottle of milk in another incident,” documents said.

The Hurricane City Police Department said on Tuesday, Oct. 2, that Wilson’s alleged burglary of the dollar store had “ a similar method of entry and circumstances ” to the burglary of a Hurricane laundromat from July 2024.

“There was a significant amount of property taken and damage done to items and the building,” Hurricane police said of the July laundromat burglary.

After a search warrant was served on Wilson’s residence, he spoke with officials, who said “enough information and probable cause was gathered” for detectives to arrest him for both incidents.

Wilson was booked into the Washington County Jail on the aforementioned charges, plus additional charges related to the Hurricane laundromat theft.

Sorina Trauntvein contributed to reporting.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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