Two men were arrested this week in connection with firearms and collectibles that were stolen from an Elko, Nevada, self-storage unit earlier this fall. The tenant who rented the compromised unit at Elko East Mini Storage reported the theft to police on Oct. 15, according to the source.

Police checked surveillance footage from the storage facility at 3760 E. Idaho St., which showed Wyatt J. Mendive, 25, removing items from the raided unit and putting what appeared to be a rifle in the trunk of his vehicle. On Oct. 16, they were contacted by a man who read about the break-in on social media. He told them he purchased three guns from Anthone K. Santarone, 51, not realizing they were stolen.

Mendive was served a warrant while in police custody at Elko County Jail. He was charged on Nov. 29 for possession of a gun, grand larceny of a gun, residential burglary and grand larceny. His bail has been set at $110,000. Mendive has been arrested seven times this year on various charges, the source reported.

Santarone was arrested on Oct. 25 following a police chase that ended when his pickup crashed into another vehicle. He was ordered on Nov. 21 to serve 307 hours in jail for crimes stemming from his attempt to evade police. Santarone was charged on Nov. 29 for possession of stolen goods valued at $25,000 or more for the self-storage burglary but isn’t in police custody.

Elko East Mini Storage is 17 miles from downtown Spring Creek, Nevada. It offers drive-up and vehicle storage.

Source: Elko Daily, 2 Charged in Theft of Firearms From Mini-Storage