![Maricopa police arrested Leonard Burton, 43, on suspicion of shoplifting, assault and endangerment on Sept. 5, 2026. [Pinal County Sheriff's Office]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/20260917-pcso-leonard-burton-1024x580.jpg)
Police say a man left his niece in a grocery store parking lot after attempting to shoplift $430 in merchandise.
A security guard noticed Leonard Burton, 43, and a girl leaving Fry’s Marketplace on John Wayne Parkway around 12:40 p.m. Sept. 5 without paying for the items in his bags.
When the guard approached Burton, he dropped the bags, pushed the girl aside and ran to his vehicle, according to a probable cause statement. Store security told police the girl tried to get into the vehicle before Burton “yelled at her then drove off without her.”
The girl later confirmed she was Burton’s niece.
Police arrested Burton at a home in the Villages about an hour later on suspicion of shoplifting, assault and endangerment.
Burton was arrested in July for shoplifting nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart.
