A Glendale business owner says his tattoo shop was cleaned out by crooks and it was an inside job. Now he's hoping someone will recognize his ex-employee and turn him in.
Eric McMorris says he got a call one morning from the neighboring business that his shop appeared to have been broken into at some point.
When he arrived he found all of the tattoo equipment, furniture, electronics, artwork, and even family keepsakes were all gone.
"My eyes were in a million directions, I didn't know what to look at first because there was nothing," recalls McMorris.
He says the alarm never went off and that was his first clue it had to be an inside job. Sure enough, when McMorris checked the surveillance video, he saw his newest apprentice who he's been training for about three months.
He called the guy who actually answered and admitted the crime.
"Pretty much said if you're dumb enough to believe me, you're dumb enough to get robbed. It was heartbreaking that I trusted this person," said McMorris.
Adding insult to injury, it seems the suspect tried to cover his tracks by posting a giveaway on Craigslist at the shop. Six people showed up thinking the business was open and anything left was free for the taking.
“This is how I provide for my kids, this is my pursuit of happiness, they took so much more than they realize.” said McMorris, a single father of four, “It’s like starting from square one but it’s what I have to do to keep going.”
It’s been a couple weeks since the burglary and police still haven’t been able to track down the ex-employee. Anyone who may recognize him or knows where to find him should contact police.
McMorris and the two other artists who work in the shop have tried to stock their supplies and gotten some things donated but their desperate to get their original tools and artwork back.
McMorris says anyone who responded to the Craigslist add took something can return it no questions asked and should call the shop: 623-419-7428.
