Selfies by suspect shoot self in the foot

A suspected burglar’s boast of getting “poled up” — slang for arming with guns — was one of many texts federal agents used to collar him in one of a rash of smash-andgrab gun shop burglaries across the Denver metro area.

Viet Trinh, 18, was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Denver with theft from the inventory of a federal firearms licensee. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to federal charges.

The arrest affidavit filed by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provides a chilling glimpse of a growing trend in which criminals use stolen vehicles to smash into gun stores to arm themselves.

Trinh was caught after sending numerous cellphone selfies of himself armed with stolen guns to friends.

An informant who worked with ATF agents witnessed Trinh, Chris Padilla Sr., Chris Padilla Jr., Jay Martinez and Nathaniel “Nate” Aragon climb into a white Honda Civic and a gray Honda hatchback late on Nov. 9 at the Padilla home at 1349 King St.

A security camera at a Thornton gun shop called Shooter Ready, 625 E. 70th Ave., captured a group of masked men at 4:21 a.m. Nov. 10 as people pulled up in a white sedan and a gray coupe.

The four thieves, each also wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves, usedpar a rock to bash the front window. The thieves then entered the store and smashed glass gun display cases and snatched 25 guns, the affidavit says.

Trinh later texted the informant to return to the Padilla home because the thieves had the guns, the affidavit says.

When the informant arrived, the suspects told him they “hit a store.” There were about 10 guns, which were divvied up. Everyone got about three guns.

At the time, Trinh had a Facebook page under the alias “Kyle Zimmerman.” He posted a picture of himself wearing a white and black glove, showing he was savvy enough to know he could leave fingerprints at the store.

ATF agents arrested Trinh on Aug. 16.

During an interview with agents, Trinh admitted that the Kyle Zimmerman Facebook page was his. He didn’t want to talk about the Shooter Ready burglary because he didn’t want to be a snitch, agents said.

But he later provided details and admitted driving a stolen vehicle during one of the thefts.

Then he told the federal agents he wasn’t going to say anything more.

“I feel like I’m snitchin’ on myself,” Trinh told the agents.