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(L.E.A.D.S.ONLINE CLIENT - BOISE, ID POLICE DEPT.)
Thief caught after selling stolen surveillance cameras
to pawn shop
Mike Vogel |
| BOISE -- Police will tell you that most criminals do what they can to avoid be caught in the act, and especially getting caught on videotape. |
| NewsChannel 7 has the story a man who was bold enough to actually
steal video equipment that was recording his every move. Boise Police
have arrested Michael Vandegoorberg for stealing
seven surveillance cameras. Police caught him because he tried to pawn the stolen cameras at local pawnshops for only a fraction of their value. |
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One of the crimes took place in the NewsChannel 7 parking lot. In the video, the suspect backs up his pickup, gets out, lassos the camera with a rope, gets back in his truck, and then rips it off of the building with his pickup, dragging the camera through the parking lot. Ironically, the theft completely destroyed the camera. Police say stealing anything is a bad idea, but stealing surveillance cameras is just plain dumb. “It's a real bad idea with these cameras, got $10,” said Sgt. Randy Buzzini. Police say the 46-year-old pawned the cameras for just $10, even though they are worth about $2,500 apiece. They say his motive for the crimes was drug money. The thief is seen getting into his car and pulling the surveillance camera of the wall at the Channel 7 studios. He is now facing one count of grand theft and other charges are pending. Police were able to catch the thief in about a week with the help of a new computer tracking system now set up at pawn shops. Before this new system was in place, it could have taken up to a month to track the stolen merchandise. |