POCATELLO — Police officers are stepping up patrols on the west side of town near the Idaho Rail Shop due to a rash of recent break-ins.

    The owner of the rail car repair company, Clark Beck, believes vandals are going out of their way to gain access to his property based on a faulty rumor that the building is haunted.

    “It makes sounds an old building would make, but I have never seen a ghost or felt a strange presence,” Beck states. “It’s just my place of employment.”

    Beck says Vandals have broken in to his establishment 4-5 times in the past month.

    “They are even using our own tools to bust into the building,” Beck says. “If you ask me, they’re the ones bringing the negative energy in with them.”

    The Aberdeen native indicates that officers will also be incorporating foot patrols into their nightly routines. He also warns that a guard dog is on site to greet vandals who break into the building.

    “It’s just a big old building,” Beck says. “But for some reason, it entices people to come up here and seek out a scary experience.”

    Beck warns that anyone who is caught trespassing on his property will be prosecuted.

    “We can’t keep up with the vandalism, and these are costly fixes,” Beck says. “They have ruined doors and busted through the windows. Some of the windows we resorted to boarding them up with plywood because we were replacing them so often.”

    The vandalism has been pretty consistent over the years, according to Beck.

    “It’s stressful enough running your own business without having to deal with something like this on a regular basis,” Beck says. “Every time I leave here at night, I don’t know what I will be coming back to the next day.”

    The Idaho Rail Shop moved in to a location along the railroad tracks in the late 1990’s.

    Services provided by employees at the shop include rail car welding repairs, sandblasting, painting, washing and sanitation with regards to “food grade” rail cars.

    No trespassing signs are posted on the property.