GP Police Snared Woman for Stealing Wood from Bi-Mart Due to Cold Weather
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing merchandise from Bi-Mart after jumping a fence into a secured area of the store early yesterday.
According to the Police Department, officers contacted 27-year-old Ivana Lynn Balcom during a patrol check at the store on Redwood Highway on Monday at about 3:35 a.m..
Police said they noticed several pieces of firewood scattered about along with three bags of wood chips. One bag had been ripped open by Balcom and the woodchips were in a pile. The suspect advised she took the items out of the fenced area so she could build a warming fire.
Officers advised Balcom she was not allowed to be accessing secured areas and opening property that belonged to Bi-Mart. She reportedly told them she did it because she was cold. The suspect had destroyed the bag of woodchips and the store could not resell the item valued at about $10.
Ivana Balcom was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Officers said they were unable to contact anyone from Bi-Mart, but they left a business card with the case number.
Posted on 11/14/23 11:00AM by Sam Marsh
