We are better together! At the Boise Police Department we know that the partnership we have with our community is one of our strongest tools. The Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho (ORCAID) is a great example as we regularly catch traveling retail crime suspects when they show up in or near Boise. By working together we can reduce retail theft and fraud as well as crimes that have a significant impact on consumer prices.
One recent story happened on 6/5/19 when Boise Police were made aware of a suspiciously large transaction involving over $4,500 worth of Nest cameras, doorbells and thermostats at a local business. In addition to calling law enforcement, the business notified other business owners across the Treasure Valley via the Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho (ORCAID). Boise Police detectives were able to confirm that the credit card used to purchase the items was stolen and they found that the suspect had made purchases or attempted to make purchases at other stores in Boise and Meridian. On 6/6/19 employees at a business in Nampa called police after recognizing the same subject with the stolen credit card attempting to purchase more Nest products. Police quickly organized a response to the store involving officers from Boise PD and Nampa PD and detained the subject who was later identified as Hector Alvarez of Hollywood, California.
Following further investigation and a search of Alvarez’s rental car, police found almost $14,000 in products as well as shipping receipts to Florida. Boise Police contacted Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and several boxes shipped to Florida were rerouted back to Boise. At this time detectives believe the products in the vehicle and in the boxes shipped to Florida were stolen from stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
The investigation is ongoing and furthers charges are expected from the U.S. attorney’s office.
BPD appreciates the cooperation of the local business community to work together to fight retail crime. These relationships continually result in arrests for a variety of fraud, theft, even violent crimes. For more on the Organized Retail Crime Association of Idaho go to https://orcaid.org/
