Suspicions lead to arrest of housecleaner

A registered sex offender was arrested after a Mesa home was robbed during a house-cleaning Wednesday, police said.

The home was recently purchased and being cleaned before the homebuyer, Bart Passey, completely moved in this weekend.

About $3,700 worth of property was taken from the home, Mesa police said.

“It’s pretty scary,” Passey said of the incident. He said the cleaners were found by the previous homeowner on the Internet using craigslist.

Daniel Roman, 45, of Phoenix was arrested Wednesday evening after he was found to be in the possession of stolen goods from the home, police said. Roman has been convicted numerous times, including for rape and armed robbery.

The cleaners, which included Roman, his wife and granddaughter, arrived at the North Raven Avenue home at 3 p.m. Wednesday, police said. They entered the home through the garage using the keypad, Passey said.

The previous homeowner received a phone call about 5:30 p.m. from the cleaners asking to be paid in cash at a different location, police said. The person was suspicious of the demand and asked Passey to check on the home, police said.

Passey found some items were missing, including two guns and a laptop computer. He said he also found items moved outside, including two other guns.

“They were trying to stage a backyard scene,” said Passey, who called police.

Authorities arrived at the payment location and questioned Roman. Police said he told them he stole the goods and that they were inside his vehicle.

“He was caught red-handed,” Passey said.

Roman faces three Class 4 felonies, including a theft charge and two charges of misconduct with a weapon, police said.