Thieves at work during holidays
A string of auto and residential burglaries occurred throughout Coeur d’Alene leading up to Christmas and in the days following.
Suspicious footsteps in the snow caught the attention of a resident shoveling snow early Christmas Eve in the 1700 block of East Huntley Avenue in Coeur d’Alene, leading to the discovery of multiple auto burglaries.
The reporting victim noticed footprints from the street leading to the vehicles in the driveway just before 6 a.m. Two vehicles were entered with nothing taken. One vehicle was entered and a pair of sunglasses was taken. The footprints of the possible suspect went south on Jimmy Street until the 1300 block where it appears the suspect got into a vehicle. The reporting party believes the vehicles were unlocked.
More calls regarding auto burglaries were reported in this area about the same time. Coeur d’Alene Police officers checked with residents who said they also had suspicious footprints leading to their vehicles.
Several vehicles were entered without permission and items were stolen in the 3700 block of East Pine Hill Drive. A victim/reporting party said a wrapped present was taken from a vehicle.
Another victim/reporting party reported that an unknown suspect entered the rear of an unlocked truck and removed several items including cash, a camera and gift cards.
In the same area, a different victim/reporting party reported change and an owner’s manual missing from a vehicle. A neighbor reported seeing a “big kid” and “two small kids” looking into cars around 3 a.m.
Officers were flagged down nearby in the 1900 block of East Thomas Lane for another report of suspicious footsteps in the snow leading to a vehicle parked in a driveway. The vehicle was unlocked and entry was not forced. Items were taken from the glove box and center console and placed on the seats but the only thing missing was the spare change kept in the vehicle.
Just before 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, a resident of East Pine Hill Drive reported an attempted forced home entry. An unknown suspect tried to force open the front door of the residence as if someone pushed or kicked the door, splitting the door down the middle in the process. The jamb was also split.
A blue 2001 Daewoo Lanos was reported stolen just after 2:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. The vehicle was in the parking lot of 406 W. Neider Ave. near the Dollar Tree where the owner left it after a weather-related crash the evening of the 21st. The victim noticed the vehicle was missing the evening of Dec. 23.
An auto burglary was reported Sunday night in the 500 block of South 15th Street. An unknown suspect entered a silver Volkswagon Golf and a black Dodge Ram on the street and in the driveway. Both vehicles were unlocked and a few items were taken from each vehicle including vehicle registration, a car stereo, hunting supplies and the key to the truck.
A residential burglary in the 5200 block of N. Parkwood Circle was reported Monday afternoon. Sometime in the preceding 24 hours, an unknown suspect entered the garage attached to the home and took two chain saws. Signs of forced entry were not found.