Crime spree under investigation

published on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 9:47 PM MDT

By JODI HAUSEN Chronicle Staff Writer

Authorities may be on the verge of cracking the case on a spree of property crimes that has plagued subdivisions in the Bozeman area for the last several months, Gallatin County Sheriff Jim Cashell said Wednesday.

Although Cashell could not say how many crimes might be solved, Gallatin County Sgt. Jason Jarrett confirmed Wednesday that there are at least four suspects, including three juveniles, who could be facing numerous charges for a multitude of crimes.

Authorities believe that the spate of property crimes that includes burglary, car thefts and criminal mischief may be connected to suspects arrested in a burglary last week, but they could not give more details.

“The series of burglaries are currently under investigation and no arrests have been made at this time,” Cashell said.

The crime spree came to light after Gallatin County Deputy Tom Madsen caught four males breaking into a shed in the Summer Ridge subdivision last week, Jarrett said.

“Catching burglars in the act is like a once in a career deal,” he said. “Because of the potential number of cases involved here, the deputy is working jointly with sheriff’s detectives and charges will be pending.”

At least two juveniles were cited for possession of alcohol following the break in, but other charges could be pending against them, Jarrett said. It is unclear when those charges will be filed.

“Sometimes these things take time to get together,” Cashell said. “People need to be interviewed, statements taken, evidence processed. It just takes time. Crimes don’t get solved in an hour. It takes awhile.”

Meanwhile, residents Summer Ridge, a subdivision north of Bozeman in the Bridger foothills, have been using a neighborhood e-mail list more in recent days, Rachel Baseley, the homeowners association’s secretary, said Wednesday.

“It worked fantastically,” she said. “It was an excellent, excellent use of that system. As soon as (the first alert) went out, everyone was being extra careful with security.”

Both Baseley and the homeowners association’s president, Roger Jenkins, reported that several homes and vehicles in their neighborhood had been burglarized. In most cases, the thieves took cash and gift cards, they said.

“I suspect these people are stealing untraceable stuff” without serial numbers so they can’t be easily tracked, Jenkins said.

Jenkins said his next-door neighbor was burglarized twice in less than a week while she was sleeping. The first time, thieves stole cash off a kitchen counter.

Another victim had “well over $100” cash raised for Headwaters Academy stolen, Jenkins said.

Jenkins said he was concerned, not only for his neighbors, but also for the perpetrators.

“My .357 magnum could do a job on these people,” he said. “These are young people who are acting stupidly and they could lose a limb or their life.”

The subdivision consists of about 100 one- to two-acre lots, 80 of which have homes that average at least 2,500 square feet, Jenkins said.

“We’re basically targets,” Baseley said. “We’re an attractive subdivision but we’re watching out for each other.”

Jodi Hausen can be reached at jhausen@dailychronicle.com or 582-2630.

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