Two arrested in string of newspaper box thefts
Garden City police have arrested two men in connection with the thefts of Idaho Statesman newspaper boxes.
Over the past three weeks, police said, the Statesman has been the victim of multiple thefts in which seventeen coin-operated newspaper boxes were stolen, with losses estimated at over $12,000.00.
Both the Garden City Police and Boise City Police had “numerous open criminal cases involving the thefts” according to a GCPD news release. With that, the two agencies began collaborating on the investigation.
On January 29, Garden City Police detectives identified a suspect and focused their investigation on Henry W. Guntrum, Jr., 40, from Garden City. Since that time, the release said, detectives conducted numerous interviews and extensive surveillance.
On February 5, at about 4:00 a.m., Garden City officers arrested both Guntrum and a second suspect, Chad E. Atwood, 30, also of Garden City.
The news release said “Guntrum and Atwood were in the process of unloading a stolen Idaho Statesman newspaper box from a pick-up truck at the time officers contacted them.”
Guntrum and Atwood were taken into custody.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Guntrum’s home, in the 200 block of E. 43rd Street. Investigators said they recovered a total of four newspaper boxes and several additional items from a separate Boise burglary. Police reportedly also recovered “numerous” drug paraphernalia items.
As a result of the investigation, law enforcement investigators located an additional seven newspaper boxes that were discarded off Highway 21, near Lucky Peak Dam.
Guntrum and Atwood were booked into the Ada County Jail on charges of grand theft. They could face additional charges.
The Garden City Police Department investigation is continuing. Anyone with information regarding the thefts is encouraged to contact the Garden City Police Department at 472-2950, or Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS.
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