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3 charged in string of burglaries By CHRIS BRISTOL A complaint about the theft of two firearms led to the arrests Saturday of three rather busy theft suspects, Medford police said. "These guys were stealing cars and things from cars," said Lt. Tim George. "Pretty much they were stealing anything that wasn't nailed down." The investigation began Saturday afternoon when a resident in the 400 block of North Grape Street called the police to report a burglary. Among the items stolen were a lever-action rifle, a shotgun and ammunition, George said. Within minutes, officers contacted Frederick Charles West at 425 N. Grape St. West, 22, was already wanted in connection with the recent theft of a 1977 Chevy pickup truck on West 11th Street. Also present was his girlfriend, Nicole Rae Hanscom. After stolen ammo was found in the residence, George said officers found the rifle under a window outside the room where the suspect had been sitting. George said it appeared the suspects probably pitched the rifle and some clothes out the window as police arrived. West and Hanscom were taken into custody and booked into the Jackson County Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, first-degree theft and two counts of being felons in possession of a firearm. West also was charged with several parole and probation violations. Hanscom, 19, also was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. The shotgun was never found. Later Saturday night, officers contacted 22-year-old Rogan Kirkpatrick as he loaded items into his pickup in an alley near 425 N. Grape St. Among the items were stereo equipment and tools, George said. Officers then searched the vehicle after Kirkpatrick said the property belonged to West. Kirkpatrick, 22, was arrested on charges of theft by receiving after officers linked property in the truck to at least three and possibly more unsolved burglaries and car thefts, George said. Among the items was a check from a wallet stolen last Thursday from a car in the 400 block of North Grape Street, a receipt book from a 1983 Chevy pickup reported stolen July 22, and a fly-fishing pole from another car theft in Central Point, George said. "It looks like this group was responsible for a lot of thieving," George said. "We happened to be in the right place at the right time." Meanwhile, a Grants Pass woman was arrested Sunday in connection with an unrelated residential burglary in east Medford. Acting on a tip, police accused 18-year-old Alicia Rae Tompkins of a break-in Aug. 5 in which a pistol and other personal property valued at more than $9,000 was stolen from an apartment at 314 Willamette St. George said officers recovered only a small amount of the missing property. Still missing is a diamond ring valued at $4,500 and a .22-caliber stainless steel Browning semiautomatic handgun. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA