Boise Police Property Crimes detectives arrested two suspects connected to multiple vehicle burglaries in the past month. Officers are aware of about 20-50 reported and unreported burglaries from a neighborhood near S. Federal Way and E. Lake Forest Dr. In many cases, the victims reported having their bank card or other financial transaction card stolen from their vehicle and illegally used to purchase items at local businesses. During the course of their investigation, detectives were able to identify two of the suspects involved as Paul Symonds and Amira Becht.
Arrested: Paul Symonds, 48, Caldwell
Charges: Grand Theft (F), Fraudulent use of a financial transaction card (F), Burglary (F), Failure to appear (F), Providing false information to police (m)
Arrested: Amira Becht, 19, Boise
Charges: Burglary (F) -2 counts, Fraudulent use of a financial transaction card (F) -2 counts, Possession of a controlled substance (F), Failure to appear (F), Possession of drug paraphernalia (m)
On 3/30/2021around 12:30 a.m. Boise Police officers performed a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. Symonds was identified as the driver and Becht was a passenger. Symonds initially provided police with a false name but officers were able to confirm his real identity. A records check showed the subjects each had active felony failure to appear warrants. Becht was also found to be in possession of a substance that tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. After additional investigation, the two suspects were booked into the Ada County Jail on the listed charges.
The investigation into the vehicle burglaries is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.