CAMANO ISLAND — A recent rash of burglaries on south Camano Island has some residents worried that a notorious young burglary fugitive has returned.
While some of the break-ins occurred on the same turf that Colton Harris-Moore, 18, has prowled before, Island County sheriff’s officials don’t believe he’s responsible this time.
“In one incident we have recovered a shoe print that appears to be too small to be Colton’s,” Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said Tuesday. “Other reported incidents do not appear (to) fit his profile.”
During the past three weeks, sheriff’s officials have noticed a slight increase in burglary and vehicle prowl calls, Brown said. There also have been reports near Mountain View and Elger Bay roads, the same location where Harris-Moore was known to operate.
The Camano Island teen escaped from a Renton group home 14 months ago where he was serving a three-year sentence for residential burglary. He’s still at large.
The 6-foot-5-inch teen resurfaced in a July 17, 2008, chase with police on Camano Island. He was suspected of again breaking into vacation homes, taking valuables and raiding kitchen supplies, acts that had put him behind bars in the first place.
Police released a self-Âportrait Harris-Moore apparently took July 8 using a stolen digital camera.
The camera was among other stolen items, including a credit-card scanner and electronics associated with identity-theft crimes, deputies found inside a stolen Mercedes-Benz sports car they believe Harris-Moore had been driving on Camano Island.
In August, officials said they believed Harris-Moore had left the island.
Now, it is unclear if he’s returned.
“At this point I do not have evidence or information, either way, that would indicate if Colton is or is not on Camano Island,” Brown said.
He said it would be a mistake to believe only one person could be responsible for all crimes on the island.
“I would encourage everyone to remain vigilant and alert and continue to report suspicious activity,” the sheriff said.
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