Holiday burglaries hit Payette
Thursday, December 28, 2006 2:18 PM PST
Andy Gates
Argus Observer
PAYETTE
A Payette resident told police an unknown burglar broke into his home when he was away Dec. 24 and stole $2,000 worth of wrapped presents from under his Christmas tree.
A back door of the home — situated on the 70 block of North 21st Street — had apparently been pried open, between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., and the house was reported to have been ransacked, police said.
The case is one of four recent unsolved burglaries in the city, Payette Police Department Chief Mark Clark said.
A burglary Dec. 23 at City Cleaners, situated at 22 North Main St., was also reported to police, Clark said.
Police say the business owner reported nothing was stolen, but files and cabinets were ransacked.
Police are comparing evidence from the burglaries, Clark said.
Payette police are also investigating a Dec. 18 burglary at Xpress Cash, situated at 385 S. 16th St. An alarm sounded at the business, a front glass door was broken, cabinets were sifted through, however nothing was reported stolen police said.
Police have also said a similar burglary next door to Xpress Cash, at the Movie Gallery, occurred a few months prior.
The apparent burglary cases seem similar, police said.
Police have no suspects in the four burglary cases, Clark said.
Payette police are optimistic, though, that they will solve the cases, Clark said.
If anyone has information on the burglaries, they are encouraged to contact Payette police at (208) 642-6026.
In other police news:
— Ontario police arrested John Williams, 20, Ontario, on a felony warrant Friday for charges of delivery and possession of methamphetamine, Ontario Police Department Capt. Mark Alexander said.
— Twelve crash reports were taken by Ontario police over the holiday weekend between Friday and Tuesday, including two hit and runs, one of which police say involved Driving Under the Influence, Alexander said.
The accidents were concentrated to main roadways and intersections in the city, and medical services were called to one crash, Alexander said.
— Malheur County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Gregory Escobedo Sr., 31, Ontario, at a Vale residence Friday on a warrant from a grand jury indictment for charges of first degree burglary and fourth degree assault, Undersheriff Brian Wolfe said.
