Police solve costly heist

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint Police investigators made quick work of solving a burglary case in which tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment were taken, court record show.

Police were summoned to the 900 block of Pine in March after a homeowner reported that a workshop had been burglarized.

Band, table, sidewinder and chop saws were taken. A lathe, router, joiner, trim nailer, air compressor, paint sprayer, other assorted tools and four mountain bikes were also stolen during the March 27 break-in.

The value of the stolen equipment was estimated to be $20,000, according to police reports.

There were no suspects, although an officer noticed tire tracks in an alley closely resembled the tread of a vehicle used by Thomas W. Spinney, a neighbor.

A couple of days later, officers and an Idaho Department of Correction officer decided to conduct a home check on the Spinney residence. Spinney’s son was on probation and therefore subject to periodic searches, court records indicate.

A number of the stolen items were found in the home and a storage unit in Kootenai. Spinney initially told police he was not involved in the thefts, but changed his story by saying that he was aware of the break-in, which he claimed was perpetrated by a couple of heroin users he knew.

The state contends Spinney was behind the heist and charged him with burglary and grand theft.

Spinney, 53, made an initial court appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Friday and was released on his own recognizance.

A preliminary hearing is pending to determine if there’s enough evidence to justify trying Spinney on the felony charges in 1st District Court.