Executive Summary
- Caldwell Police arrested one adult and two juveniles in connection with a New Year’s Day armed robbery.
- License plate reader technology identified the suspect vehicle within 10 minutes of the incident.
- Investigators recovered a replica handgun and the stolen electronics, including an Xbox.
- The adult suspect was arrested for possession of stolen property after the items were found in her vehicle.
CALDWELL, Idaho — Three individuals, including one adult and two juveniles, have been taken into custody following an armed robbery investigation in downtown Caldwell on New Year’s Day. According to the Caldwell Police Department (CPD), the rapid identification and apprehension of the suspects were significantly expedited by the use of the department’s Real Time Information Center and license plate reader technology.
The incident occurred near the intersection of 15th Avenue and Blaine Street. A male victim reported to authorities that he was walking in the area when two suspects exited a vehicle and held him at gunpoint. Police stated that the suspects stole an Xbox console and a computer monitor before fleeing the scene in the vehicle.
Using the description provided by the victim, CPD detectives utilized the city’s license plate reader system. Investigators reported that the suspect vehicle was identified within 10 minutes of the crime being reported. Officers located the vehicle later that same day, and the owner provided information identifying the alleged gunman.
Police subsequently arrested a juvenile suspect. During an interview with detectives, the juvenile reportedly admitted to the robbery and disclosed the location of the weapon. A search warrant executed at the juvenile’s residence resulted in the recovery of a replica handgun believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.
Further investigation revealed that the stolen Xbox had been placed in the trunk of a separate vehicle. Authorities stated this vehicle was driven by an adult female, identified as the mother of a second juvenile suspect. Utilizing location data from the juvenile’s mobile phone, officers tracked the vehicle and recovered the stolen property. The adult driver was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property. The second juvenile suspect, identified by the first accomplice, was also taken into custody.
Investigative Technology Impact
This case highlights the increasing reliance of local law enforcement on integrated surveillance technologies to resolve violent crimes. The Caldwell Police Department noted that the coordination between live-stream video feeds and license plate readers allowed investigators to recover evidence that might otherwise have been lost and limited the operation to only two enforcement stops, thereby reducing risk to the public. While these technologies accelerated the arrests, it is important to note that all individuals mentioned in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
