Armed man breaks into shapewear store, runs out with cash register

A Barstow man was arrested last week after he allegedly broke into a clothing store armed with a knife and took off with the cash register.

It happened last Friday on the 14000 block of Valley Center Drive, in a business that sells women’s shapewear products.

Sheriff’s officials said Desmen Bentley, 28, broke open a window in the back of the store around 1 p.m. during regular business hours.

An employee heard the commotion in the back of the store and discovered a man with a knife in his hand climbing through the window.

Employees quickly ran out of the business to safety and called 911, while the burglar turned his attention to the cash register.

Bentley then took the cash register and fled the business from the back before authorities could arrive on scene, officials said.

But his getaway was short-lived.

Deputies conducted an area sweep near the scene and located him. He was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto where he awaits possible charges for robbery and vandalism.

Jail records indicate he is due in court on Tuesday to face those charges.

Those same records also show that he has previous felony convictions and was on parole during the time of his arrest.