Below are excerpts from two press recent releases that show the importance of taking preventive measures, and to call in crime & suspicious activity when we see it:

#1)

Boise Police Detectives say, thanks to the markings the victim put on his tools, officers believe they have found nearly all of the items that were stolen.

"Some of the items taken are very valuable. We're thrilled to be able to find, identify and now return all these items to the victim." said Sgt. Randy Buzzini, of the Boise Police Property and Financial Crimes Unit.

"It's thanks to the victim being aware of how to mark items to identify the item, that's helping us, said Sgt. Buzzini. "We really wish more people would do this. It helps us help them." said Buzzini.

What Happened: A home burglary in the area of Hill Rd. and Bogus Basin Rd. was reported to Boise Police Sept. 18, 2008. The victim is a carpenter who works in the construction business. Approximately $40,000 in construction tools, and approx. $10,000 in personal items, like snow skis, ski and dress coats, and jewelry were stolen. Someone had forced their way into the home.

Officers were able to obtain from the victim a complete and accurate list of the items taken. The victim also told officers his construction tools were marked with a bright red stripe of paint. Many of the tools were also marked with his initials. Recently, the victim was in a second hand sports shop and saw what he believed to be his stolen skis for sale. He reported the find to Boise Police Detectives.

Following leads, Boise Police located and arrested the suspect last night as he was attempting to pawn even more items.

Boise Police recommend the following:

Photograph or videotape valuable items.

Mark valuables, like construction tools with paint or initials.

Keep serial numbers of valuables with photos in a fireproof safe box to help police or insurance companies with recovery if the items are ever lost or stolen.

#2)

Boise, Jan, 20, 2009 - Boise Police arrested three men Monday for spray painting graffiti on a freeway overpass. After further investigation, officers believe the men are responsible for at least $18,000 in damage from graffiti that's damaged Boise neighborhoods for the past several weeks.

What Happened: Monday, Jan. 19, 2008, approx 4;30 a.m., a citizen called police reporting three men spray painting graffiti on the 1-84 overpass at Cole Rd. Boise Police officers responded, set a perimeter, and found the three still on scene.

The officers also saw several locations of spray painted graffiti that appeared to be very fresh on the freeway overpass. During the investigation, officers found the suspects to be in possession of several cans of spray paint.

"We think this group has been doing a lot of damage to neighborhoods all over the city for about two months now. We've taken a lot of complaints from citizens who see graffiti and really don't want this eyesore in Boise,' said Officer Tony Davidson, a Boise Police Neighborhood Contact Officer leading the investigation.

"Major kudos to the citizen who recognized what they were seeing and called it in, and to patrol who responded quickly and caught these guys. It's rare to catch these in the act, and it looks like we're going to clear up a lot of cases with these arrests." said Davidson.

Thank you for your outstanding efforts in keeping your neighborhoods safe by encouraging neighbors to take preventive measures for their property and to call police when needed.

Charlene Miller

Crime Prevention Unit

Boise Police Department

208-577-3851

cmiller@cityofboise.org