Gardnerville man steals four cases of beer for birthday party, arrested for shoplifting and meth possession

A Gardnerville man, who told authorities he was planning a birthday party but didn't have enough money for beer and so he decided to steal four cases of it, faces felony shoplifting and possession of methamphetamine charges after being arrested Wednesday.
Jay William Dunkelberg, 53, was detained by Safeway store personnel following a foot chase. He was subsequently interviewed by Carson City Sheriff's Office personnel where he confessed to shoplifting and meth possession, according to the arrest report. Bail is set at $5,000.
Deputies were called to the Safeway on North Carson Street at about 12:35 in the afternoon after the man was detained and escorted to the store by store personnel.

The arresting officer met with Undersheriff Steve Albertsen and Deputy Don Gibson at the store. A search of Dunkelberg led to a plastic baggie with methampetamine. Officers advised Dunkelberg of his Miranda rights, whereby Dunkelberg said he understood his rights and agreed to speak, according to the arrest report.
During the interview, Dunkelberg told authorities that he was planning a birthday party and needed beer for the party and stated he didn't have enough money, according to the arrest report.
During his lunch break, he left his place of work and drove around trying to decide what he wanted for lunch, according to the arrest report. He told authorities that he was thinking about the party and while he was driving around thinking about the party he decided to go to Safeway, according to the arrest report.
In the confession he admitted to officers that he made the decision prior to arriving that he would steal the beer, according to the report. He said he arrived at Safeway with $10 cash, pushed the shopping cart to aisle #3, selected four cases of beer and placed them in the shopping cart.
Dunkelberg then moved to the front of the store to the south exit and then left the store without paying for the four cases of beer, according to the arrest report. The beer was valued at $82,60.
Safeway Loss Prevention personnel, which tracks in-store shoplifters, approached Dunkelberg to detain him, but he took off running. There was a foot chase and Dunkelberg fell, enabling Loss Prevention to catch and detain him, according to the arrest report.
During the interview, Dunkelberg also admitted that the substance found in the baggie from his pocket was methamphetamine. He was taken into custody and booked into jail.