Transient Faces Attempted Robbery Charge

A transient accused of trying to steal two cases of beer from a grocery store Sunday night was arrested after security guards apprehended him.

Alfredo Castillo, 20, a transient, entered the Rosauers store at 1808 W. Third in Browne’s Addition about 8:45 p.m. Sunday.

Three Rosauers security officers stopped him as he walked out of the store with two cases of beer. Castillo kicked one of the men three times in thigh.

Officers say Castillo told them he had no money and hadn’t intended to pay for the merchandise.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony attempted robbery.

The security officer did not require medical care.

Thief takes smokes from gas station

The owner of a West Plains Texaco station said a thief cut his phone line and took 10 cartons of cigarettes last week.

He said the burglary happened sometime between 11 p.m. last Thursday and 6 a.m. the following day at the store along state highway 902 . The rear door had been opened, possibly with a crowbar, said sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan.

One-inch pry marks were found on both the door and the doorjamb, he said.

Damage to the door was estimated at $1,000, Reagan said.

Missing were 10 cartons of Marlboro cigarettes valued at $250. The owner said he would do an inventory to discover any other missing items.

There are no suspects.

Census takers may be knocking

As census takers begin knocking in Spokane, police want to remind residents to check for identification for anyone who comes to their door.

The Seattle census bureau confirms that workers are doing preliminary information-gathering for the 2000 census. They’re checking every third house in Washington and Idaho to verify street addresses, said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

Both those workers and a separate group collecting statistics for the Department of Commerce are working in Spokane. The census group will be working for another two weeks.

Both carry ID - plastic badges with their logo. They all have toll-free numbers displayed for citizens to call to verify their name and questions being asked.

Police suggest citizens always call to verify whenever someone comes to the door seeking information. Citizens should never provide details on their finances, security systems or other personal data unless they check the person’s identification.

Thief saddles up at West Plains farm

Five saddles valued at more than $4,000 were stolen from a West Plains farm over the weekend.

The saddles were not locked up, and were taken sometime between 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday from the farm in the 11400 block of South Spotted Road.

The owner said he went to the farm Saturday morning to check on a horse and left a 1968 size-15 brown leather men’s roping saddle with new stitching. That saddle was valued at $800.

He left it near the horse, planning to use it later that afternoon.

Four other saddles, including two size-15 women’s barrel-racing saddles valued at nearly $2,000, were also missing, Reagan said.