Daniel A. Hermosillo, 34, is charged with felony grand theft and burglary after Boise police say he shoplifted high-end clothes and other expensive items at local sporting goods stores and returned those items for gift cards that he used to buy guns.

Police arrested Hermosillo Tuesday morning as he was walking out of a West Boise store with a gun he’d bought with gift cards, according to reports.

Officers got a warrant and searched Hermosillo’s home in the 3200 block of North Jones Place near Ustick and Five Mile roads later Tuesday and found more than a dozen guns. Police say Hermosillo acquired those weapons (shotguns, rifles, handguns and a compound bow) the same way.

Police say they developed evidence working with store officials that Hermosillo had been running the scam at various times since 2009.

Police did not share a theory Wednesday about why Hermosillo was acquiring so many guns, which are worth several thousand dollars.

Curt Crum, the Boise police retail crimes supervisor, said the intermittent patterns of thefts over the past four years made the investigation a challenge.

“It takes cooperation between retailers and law enforcement to make a real impact on this kind of crime, saving consumers money in the long run,” Crum said.

Other charges against Hermosillo are possible, police said.

Hermosillo’s bond was set at $35,000. A preliminary hearing is set for March 6.

The crimes of grand theft and burglary are punishable by up to 14 and 10 years in prison.

Patrick Orr: 377-6219, Twitter: @IDS_Orr