A RUINED GETAWAY: Officers on patrol near the 76 gas station on state Route 410 late on Dec. 19 noticed a vehicle with an open door waiting in front of the gas station. As the officer turned to buy coffee, an adult female ran up to the stand yelling “They just ripped me off! Is that cop still Here?” The woman was an employee from the gas station and she pointed to the aforementioned car, which was then driving through the lot at a faster-than-normal speed. The officer pursued the vehicle, which contained three males, through the lot as it headed toward the rear of the Regal Cinemas building and proceeded eastbound behind the Fred Meyer at a high rate of speed. After the officer activated his emergency lights, the vehicle pulled over. Unsure of the nature of the complaint, the officer held the three suspects at gunpoint until backup arrived. All three subjects were detained and questioned. According to the driver, the passenger asked him to stop at the gas station for something and then came out of the store saying “go, go, go.” When police appeared behind them, the passneger told the driver of the shoplift. The driver was found to be driving with license suspended and the passenger was identified by the store employee as having stolen two packs of cigarettes and some candy. During the investigation, the passenger in the back seat was seen to be wearing a new pair of boots that still contained the security tag. Police also observed int he car two sleeping bags, an air mattress, a 12-pack of beer, a coffee pot and several articles of clothing, all still with Fred Meyer price tags on them. The driver agreed to return all stolen Fred Meyer merchandise to the store. He also removed two packs of unopened cigarettes from the glove box to be returned to the gas station. Fred Meyer declined to press charges, but the passenger was taken to Buckley Jail and booked on theft charges.
PROWL: Police on Dec. 20 took a vehicle prowl report in the lobby of the public safety building from a resident of the 8300 block of 182nd Avenue East. According to the victim, a work vehicle parked unlocked in his driveway was broken into on the night of Dec. 16 and the ignition was damaged and several items were taken including insurance cards, registration, bluetooth pieces and two knives. Police are investigating.
THEFT OF TIRES: Police on Dec. 2o were dispatched to Ernie’s Automotive for a report of a theft. Earlier in the day, a mechanic was approached by an individual who asked if there were any tires stolen that day. The employee looked around and noticed four tires missing from a display. The individual told the employee that earlier int he day he witnessed two males take four tires from the display, put them in their truck and drive off. The individual thought this suspicious and wrote down the vehicle’s plate number and a description before leaving without identifying himself. The tires are valued at more than $570. Police are investigating.
FRAUD: Police on Dec. 22 took a report from an individual who in November signed up for a credit card online and provided a $99 activation fee Nov. 17. The victim said he never received a card, but a second withdrawal of $19 was made from his account Dec. 22. When he called the company, EPC1 Marquee, the number had been disconnected. The victim contacted his bank and canceled the account. Police attempted to contact the company and received no answer. They also discovered two complaints though the Missouri Attorney General office.
SHOPLIFT: An officer on Dec. 23 was in the Walmart parking lot when a member of store security said a male running through the lot had just stolen several items from the store. The officer yelled for the individual to stop, but he continued to run. Officers eventually caught up with him and placed him under arrest at which time a search located several items including gas treatments, alcohol, food and some small items that were either on his person or were seen thrown by him while he was running. Store security had watched the man walk through the aisles, placing items in his pockets. When security approached him at the door, he took off running. The man was cited for theft and released.
PROWL: Police on Dec. 24 were dispatched to the 18200 block of 108th Street Court East for a report of theft from vehicle. The victim reported the vehicle was parked, unlocked and mostly empty in his driveway and he later found the doors open and a camera removed from the vehicle, among other things. The vehicle’s dome light was also pulled down and the light bulb removed. Police are investigating.
LABEL SWITCHING IS STEALING: Police on Dec. 24 were dispatched to Walmart for a report of a female shoplifter in custody. According to security, the suspect concealed more than $119 worth of merchandise in a comforter set and also switched price tags on several items, placing cheaper UPC symbols over more expensive ones. The suspect allegedly placed six UPC codes totaling $35.82 on to items valued at $197.04, a difference of more than $161. The suspect told police she did not think it was a big deal because at least she was paying for something. She also admitted to placing the concealed items inside the comforter set. Several Walmart receipts were also found in her pocket. The woman had previously been trespassed from the store. The woman was transported to Buckley Jail and booked on theft and trespassing charges.
PROWLED: Police on Dec. 25 were dispatched to the 18400 block of 104th Street Court East or a report of a vehicle prowl. According to the reporting party, various items including a college transcript, a jack and an iPod were taken from a vehicle parked at a residence. Police are investigating.
THEFT: Police on Dec. 26 were dispatched to the 19100 block of 107th Street East for a report of mail theft. The reporting party told police she received a phone call from American Express informing her that her online request for a credit card was complete and a card was sent. The victim, however, did not open an account or receive a card. The victim closed the account. Police are investigating.
WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR FINGERS?: Officers on Dec. 26 were dispatched to the area of 207th Avenue eats and Church Lake drive for a report of possible narcotics activity. Dispatch reported seeing two women in a vehicle allegedly holding a lighter to tinfoil and lighting it. Police responded and located the suspect vehicle. The passenger was sitting in the vehicle and another woman was standing on the driver side in the roadway. The driver told police she was waiting for one of her children to text and tell her which house they were at so they could be picked up. Police observed a sooty, black residue on her fingertips, usually associated with smoking prescription drugs through aluminum foil. Police also observed small bits of aluminum foil on the ground outside the car, consistent with smoking prescription pills. When asked about her fingertips, the woman said she went to the bathroom in the woods and used leaves to wipe herself. She also denied knowledge of the aluminum foil on the road. The woman was arrested. A search revealed two prescription bottles of Oxycodone written tot he driver, but both bottles were empty despite having been filled just six days prior. She was transported to Buckley Jail and booked on charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
