Full Notification

MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2023
 
CONTACT: Kelsey Winnett, Public Information Officer
 

MERIDIAN- Two juvenile males are in custody after a string of vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts which occurred over the weekend. When the Meridian Police Department was conducting a stolen vehicle investigation on September 18, 2023, the owner of the vehicle was able to use GPS location to track the vehicle to a residence in Nampa. The Nampa Police Department had a fifteen (15) year old male in custody for attempting to break into a separate vehicle and he was in possession of the vehicle key fob from the Meridian stolen vehicle.   
 
As part of the investigation, a sixteen (16) year old male was also identified and taken into custody.
 
The Meridian Police Department has at this time identified 4 vehicle thefts, more than twenty (20) vehicle burglaries, and multiple gun thefts in areas including Boise, Meridian, and Nampa in connection to these two juveniles. Most of the vehicles involved were unlocked. As a reminder, remove all valuables including wallets and especially firearms from your vehicle and lock the doors.
 
Meridian Police believes there could possibly be more victims and are asking the public to check their vehicles for their belongings, especially if the vehicles have been left unlocked. To report a theft, please reach out to the police agency in your area:
 
Nampa Police Department: (208) 465-2257
Meridian Police Department: (208) 888-6678
Boise Police Department: (208) 570-6000
 
Both juveniles were arrested and booked into the Canyon County Juvenile Detention Center.
 
The fifteen (15) year old male was arrested on the following charges: fourteen (14) felony counts Vehicle Burglary, four (4) felony counts Criminal Conspiracy, three (3) felony counts Grand Theft Auto, two (2) felony counts Grand Theft, and one (1) felony count Vehicle-Receiving or Transferring Stolen Vehicle.
 
The sixteen (16) year old male was arrested on the following charges: fourteen (14) felony counts Vehicle Burglary, four (4) felony counts Criminal Conspiracy, three (3) felony counts Grand Theft Auto, two (2) felony counts Grand Theft, and one (1) felony count Vehicle-Receiving or Transferring Stolen Vehicle.
 
Meridian Police would like to thank the Nampa Police Department for their assistance in yesterday’s arrests. The Meridian Police Department’s mission is to provide the highest quality service in partnership with the community to preserve and protect life and property through education, prevention and enforcement. The department has 143 police officers and 43 civilian staff dedicated to making Meridian a great place to live, work and raise a family.