Joplin teen charged with burglarizing Z's Drive-Thru Liquor Store, tampering with a motor vehicle

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On September 16th, 2019 Joplin Police Officers were dispatched to a past tense burglary at Z’s Drive Thru Liquor Store located at 1620 S. Main St at 11:46 P.M.

Upon officers' arrival, they observed that the drive through window was broken open. 

Officers searched the business and did not locate a suspect. 

During the investigation video surveillance of the suspect was obtained and disseminated out to officers working showing the suspect stealing lottery tickets and leaving on a scooter.

Another call was received at 2:52 A.M. of a male reporting injury at Freeman Hospital, officers responded to the location and contacted Westley Shaner, 18 years old of Joplin. 

Shaner reported that he was cut during a robbery in Joplin. While conducting the investigation investigators noticed that Shaner was wearing the same clothing as the male in the burglary video, had matching tattoos as the male in the burglary video, and was riding a scooter the same make as the burglary suspect. 

Shaner's injuries were consistent with injuries sustained of breaking a window and going through it. The scooter that Shaner was driving was also found to be stolen out of Joplin, MO. While investigators were conducting followups Shaner attempted to leave the hospital.

Shaner was arrested for Burglary in the 2nd Degree for the burglary of the liquor store and Vehicle Tampering for the stolen scooter. If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131.