posted 02/10/11 08:56 AM | updated 02/10/11 11:34 AM
Views: 1356 | Comments : 0 | Crime

Capitol Hill bike and computer thief nabbed after a beer, a Coke and about a half mile -- UPDATE

By jseattle
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An alert neighbor and Seattle Police teamed up Thursday morning to bust a man who had just grabbed a bike -- and a beverage or two -- from next door. Here's an account sent around the neighborhood near St. Joe's this morning and passed along to CHS:

[Neighbor 1] behind the alley from us on 19th and [Neighbor 2] had someone go thru their yard and take beer, coke, and went into their garage and took [Neighbor 1]'s bike. I guess he was thirsty doing his deed this morning. [Neighbor 2] heard something about 6:30a this morning and they alerted the police after noticing the bike was gone. He was caught shortly thereafter on 16th and Mercer with 2 bikes and some computer gear.

Sounds like they found the guy less than a mile from his morning break-in. We'll check in for more details on how the bad guy was nabbed and any other shenanigans he's been involved with in the past.

9:25AM - UPDATE - We'll need to talk to SPD to sort this all out but there were a series of calls this morning from around 18th Ave and 19th Ave regarding two suspicious males in the area. In the bike rip-off documented above (a black Cannondale, by the way), both suspects were spotted, according to police radio. At this point, we're only aware of one person being taken into custody. From the radio reports, sounds like there may have been another break-in near 16th and Mercer near where the suspect was apprehended.
1:06PM - UPDATE - Here's the report on the bust from SPD:

On February 10th, at approximately 5:10 AM, East Precinct officers responded to the 700 Block of 16th Avenue East on a report of a possible burglary. An alert neighbor saw an unknown male standing on her property and scared him off. The neighbor then alerted her neighbor to the fact that this suspicious man was in her yard. That neighbor went to his garage and discovered he had some property missing, including a bicycle. Approximately an hour later, an officer, who was still writing up the report from the initial burglary call a few blocks away, observed a male matching the description with a bicycle in his possession. The officer then contacted the suspect. The victim responded to the location and positively identified the stolen bike. The suspect was taken into custody. Search incident to arrest, officers found in the suspect’s possession burglary tools, a stolen laptop, and drugs. The 43 year old suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, VUCSA and outstanding warrants.
10:36PM - UPDATE - East Precinct command sent out some additional notes on the arrest:
Three notable “Take Aways” from this are:

1. Neighbors were looking out for each other.
2. A neighbor called 911 about suspicious, out of the ordinary activity resulting in an arrest

and property recovery.
3. The Officers knew the identified suspect and his criminal history.

This case will be referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office RBI (Repeat Burglar Initiative)
Prosecutor in order to attempt to obtain a high bail to reduce the suspect’s proven recidivism.

Highly commendable work from the following First Watch Officers:

1C11 (Ofcr Kurt Knox)
1C31 (Ofcr Deb Pelich—saw and stopped the suspect)
1C1 (Ofcr Dan Hynes—investigated the previous day’s burglary)
1C22 (Ofcr Kauhane)

-Captain Jim Dermody
East Precinct Commander
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