News
July 14, 2024
3 charged with burglary at CA pool store

Three men are facing felony charges for burglarizing a pool supply business in South Palm Springs, California.

Christopher Gwin, 49, of Riverside, 44-year-old Robert Firman of Riverside, and 51-year-old Kevin Bean of Norco were arrested on June 23 and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

On June 26, the men were charged with felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and second-degree burglary, as well as a misdemeanor for possession of burglary tools, according to court records.

In the early morning hours of June 23, Palm Springs police officers responded to an alarm at a pool supply business in South Palm Springs.

Just two nights before, a similar burglary had taken place in which suspects used a U-Haul as a getaway vehicletotransportstolenpoolsupplies. Responding to the current alarm, a Palm Springs police officer observed a U-Haul truck matching the vehicle’s description in the previous burglary.

Officers recovered a variety of pool equipment, including heaters, pumps, and other supplies, according to a police statement, which claimed that these items “represent a significant disruption to a major commercial burglary operation.”

Both Firman and Bean have no listed previous felony convictions, but Bean has previous misdemeanor record for violating a court order and possession of a controlled substance. Gwin has multiple prior felony convictions.

LATEST NEWS
Pool industry anxious for interest rate cut
Favorable Fed decision will have positive effect on new swimming pool construction
November 30, 2025
By Marcelle Dibrell Ahead of its regularly scheduled December committee meeting, the Federal Reserve is facing mounting pressure to cut interest rates...
November 30, 2025
In 2026, the pool and spa industry’s calendar is packed with a powerful slate of regional trade shows across the country — from Atlantic City to Long ...
Desert Pool & Spa Show, Mesa, AZ, Seminars & Exhibits: Jan. 10 Mid-America Pool & Spa Show, Indianapolis, IN Seminars Jan. 12-15; Exhibits: Jan 13-15, Southeast Pool & Spa Show, Nashville, TN, Seminars & Exhibits: Jan. 22-23 The Pool & Spa Show, Atlantic City, NJ, Seminars Jan. 25-29; Exhibits: Jan. 27-29 Western Pool & Spa Show, Long Beach, CA, Seminars & Exhibits Feb. 12-14 Southwest Pool & Spa Show, San Antonio, TX Seminars Feb. 15-19; Exhibits: Feb. 17-19 National Plasterers Council Conference, Anaheim, CA Seminars Feb. 17-20 Everything Under The Sun Expo, Orlando, FL Seminars March 3-7; Exhibits: March 6-7
November 30, 2025
November 30, 2025
A years-long pattern of unfinished swimming pools, abandoned construction sites, and drained bank accounts came to a head this November when Plymouth,...