Mesa police arrested a man they say used a Circle K uniform to steal lottery tickets from multiple convenience stores across the city, in a string of incidents that ended when officers took him into custody at a fourth location after an altercation.
Pattern of thefts targeted Circle K stores
Authorities identified the suspect as 30-year-old DeMarko Dangerfield. Investigators say the series began on June 27 at a Circle K near Lindsay and Baseline roads, when an employee called police after Dangerfield walked out of the store with lottery tickets. On July 1, police allege he repeated the scheme at a second Circle K near Stapley Drive and University Drive while wearing a Circle K T-shirt.
- June 27 — Circle K near Lindsay and Baseline roads: alleged theft of lottery tickets
- July 1 — Circle K near Stapley Drive and University Drive: attempted theft; employee recognized suspect
- July 1 — Circle K near McKellips Road and Power Road: alleged assault on employee and arrest
Security camera footage from the third location shows the suspect striking a store employee, and officers arrested him at that site. Mesa police say handprints linked the cases at the three stores.
Investigators link suspect to prior crime
Court records show Dangerfield had a similar conviction in 2020 in Scottsdale and was imprisoned for that offense. Records indicate he was released from prison in June. Mesa detective Jose Aguirre said other police departments in the Valley are examining possible connections to related incidents.
"That employee saved that store from any losses,”
Detective Aguirre credited an employee who recognized Dangerfield at the second store with preventing another theft. He also told reporters, "They move around. They don't want to be stagnant in one place. They'll move around. In their mind, they're not going to be caught.”
Local impact and store security
Employees at the targeted locations told reporters the scheme has been upsetting. A part-time worker at the Baseline store said the impersonation and thefts were infuriating, noting that staff can lose jobs over retail shrink and that someone posing as an employee undermines worker safety.
| Date | Location (approx.) | Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|
| June 27 | Lindsay & Baseline roads | Lottery tickets stolen; employee called police |
| July 1 | Stapley Dr & University Dr | Attempted theft; employee recognized suspect |
| July 1 | McKellips Rd & Power Rd | Employee punched; suspect arrested |
Circle K had reportedly warned its stores about the alleged scam before the second incident. Mesa police are continuing the investigation and coordinating with other Valley law-enforcement agencies to determine whether the suspect is linked to additional crimes.
The episode underscores ongoing concerns for convenience-store workers across the Phoenix area, where retailers and local agencies face recurring schemes that target quick-pay items such as lottery tickets. For Mesa residents, investigators say vigilance and staff awareness helped stop further losses — and likely prevented additional confrontations.
Mesa police have not released additional charges or court dates in the case. The arrest comes days after Dangerfield’s release from prison in June for a prior similar offense in Scottsdale, according to court records.
