3 arrested in connection to construction site theft

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - UPDATE 12/3/2020: The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Falls Police Department located and arrested three suspects Wednesday in connection to the Thanksgiving weekend theft of construction tools from a job site in the Bridgewater Subdivision. 

Since the initial report, deputies discovered additional surveillance video indicating at least three suspects being involved. 

Through investigation and a number of tips from the public, detectives located 41-year-old Carl James Eckenrode Jr., 33-year-old Joseph M. R. Herrera and 27-year-old Lisa D. Ritchie of Idaho Falls and observed them moving items from a residence on Hollipark Dr. to a vehicle belonging to Ritchie that appeared to match the description of items taken in the theft. 

Deputies made a traffic stop on the vehicle near Anderson and Boulevard locating Eckenrode and Herrera inside. 

At that time, deputies observed multiple items in the vehicle matching stolen items from the job site in question. 

Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for the Hollipark residence and detained Ritchie at that location. 

During the search, detectives located more items from the theft in rooms identified by Ritchie as being occupied by Eckenrode. 

Through investigation Deputies also located a pickup belonging to Eckenrode parked on Ashment that matches surveillance pictures taken when the theft occurred. 

All three were placed under arrest and transported to the Bonneville County Jail where they were booked for Grand Theft. 

During the booking process at the jail, Eckenrode was found to be in possession of just under two grams of Methamphetamine and was also booked for Felony charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Introducing Contraband into a Correctional Facility. 

Deputies are continuing to investigate this case and no further information is available at this time. 

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public for tips and information that contributed to the recovery of this property and the apprehension of the suspects. 

ORIGINAL: Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies are seeking your help in identifying suspects involved in a theft of tools and a trailer from a construction site.

A contractor working on a housing development in the Bridgewater Estates subdivision near Ammon and Lincoln Road Monday discovered an enclosed trailer with more than $60,000 in tools missing from the job site. The trailer was soon discovered a short distance away but had been emptied of various survey equipment, a generator and tools.

Deputies discovered from various neighborhood surveillance that two suspects, believed to be males, driving a silver or gold-colored mid 2000’s extra cab Chevrolet pickup had hooked onto the trailer at the site and transported it to a separate location. The suspects offloaded tools and items into the pickup, abandoned the trailer and left the area.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about this or any other crime to contact dispatch at 208-529-1200 and ask to speak with a deputy.

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers online at www.ifcrime.org, by calling 208-522-1983, or by using the P3Tips app on your mobile device.