Payette police probe burglaries
By ARGUS OBSERVER STAFF
Friday, October 31, 2008 11:06 AM PDT
PAYETTE — The Payette Police Department is investigating a series of storage shed burglaries at Rhilo Storage on Second Avenue North that occurred between Sunday and Tuesday.
Payette Police Department Capt. Dave Platt said he was dispatched to the storage facility at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday after it was reported four storage sheds were broken into and items taken.
“We’re still working on a full list of property that was stolen, and we have no suspects at this time,” Platt said. He said the suspect or suspects gained entry to the sheds by using bolt cutters or some other tool to cut through the hasp, which is the door clasp fastened by padlocks.
Platt said, while the storage facility has fences on three sides, it is not entirely enclosed, and there are no security gates nor surveillance cameras.
In other area public safety news: the Ontario Police Department is now investigating an incident involving a 15-year-old Payette female. The female apparently drove into the side of the Ontario RiteAid at 7:45 p.m. Monday.
The 15-year-old was operating a relative’s 2005 Dodge Stratus without permission when she hit the wall of the establishment, situated at 728 S.W. Fourth Ave., causing “substantial damage,” OPD Capt. Mark Alexander said.
The youth was cited for careless driving and driving without an operator’s license and was released to a relative. Alexander also said he would like to get the word out about scams sweeping the area. One scam, which he said was reported last week, involves a caller requesting checking account information for a new social security card. Alexander said he did not believe new cards were being issued and the Social Security Administration would not need checking information if it were issuing new cards.
He also asked residents be aware of another ongoing scam where the caller reports their vehicle has broken down and they need money. An interesting fact, Alexander said, is that the caller pretends to be a grandchild of the resident. Alexander said he is unsure of how they are getting this information and said residents should ask further questions to learn if the callers are who they say.
