Two Men Arrested In Burglaries Suspects May Be Connected To Rash Of Break-Ins

Two men were booked into Shoshone County jail Monday evening in the wake of a weeklong rash of break-ins and burglaries.

Though most of the burglaries involved forced entry, officials are warning Shoshone County residents and businesses to lock up.

“People around here are still trying to live like you can leave your front door open and the keys in your car. If they knew how many burglaries have been reported, they’d realize those days are gone,” sheriff’s Deputy Mitch Alexander said.

Officials are not sure how many of the thefts the two suspects may be responsible for.

“It’s been kind of crazy. We’re trying to put two and two together, but the suspects are not talking,” said Lt. Charles “Spike” Angle.

Russell L. Kuykendall, 29, of Kellogg, and Curtis G. Upton, 33, of Wallace, were arrested after a neighbor allegedly saw them entering a Prichard residence early Monday. Officers recovered a TV set, a videocassette recorder and other household items from the two men during a traffic stop on the Kingston interchange on Interstate 90.

The two men were booked into jail on charges of burglary and receiving stolen property.The arrests came at the tail end of a burglary spree that spanned the Silver Valley.

Other recent burglaries in the Silver Valley have involved businesses.

Les Schwab Tire Center and Dale’s Used Cars were broken into Monday night, said Kellogg Police Chief John Crawford.

The Spragpole Museum in Murray was entered through a rear door Friday. Silverware and antique bottles are missing.

And several Pinehurst businesses were hit last Thursday, Alexander said. Pinehurst Farm and Feed Store lost about $1,800 in merchandise. Two nearby businesses, Pard n’ Me Western Wear and Klassic Kuts, a beauty salon, also were hit.

“There’s no doubt in my mind those three break-ins were carried out by the same person,” Alexander said.