Police probe string of burglaries at businesses

EVERETT — Police in Everett and neighboring communities are investigating a string of similar burglaries at area stores.

The break-ins typically occur at strip malls. A less secure, vacant or smaller business is entered through the back of the building. From there, one or more culprits rip through the drywall to gain access into larger businesses.

There have been five similar burglaries in Everett during the past two weeks, Everett Police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. Another 15 similar break-ins have been reported recently in other parts of Snohomish County, reaching from Stanwood to Monroe and including Arlington, Marysville and Mukilteo.

“They are all over the place,” Goetz said.

“The suspect or suspects are prying open a rear door and making entry into either a vacant business space or one they believe does not have an alarm system,” Goetz said.

Goetz said it appears that the suspects are looking for cash that might be left in the business overnight or anything that might hold cash, such as a lock box or cash register.

There also appears to be prior knowledge of the building and business layout.

Goetz would not say Wednesday if Everett police are investigating any connection to more than 100 similar break-ins around the region in 2008 and 2009.

In that case, three men, dubbed the “drywall bandits” were charged with burglary and theft for a break-in at Jay’s Market in Lake Stevens. Prosecutors said the trio also was under investigation for dozens of others. Investigators said the men broke through the drywall at adjacent businesses or store rooms to avoid setting off any security alarms. They often broke into or removed safes from the businesses.

Two men, Byron Bowman and James Densmore, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the break-in at Jay’s Market. Bowman also pleaded guilty to more than a dozen other burglaries and confessed to breaking into nearly 50 different businesses. Charges against a third suspect were dropped in June after prosecutors reinterviewed one of their primary witnesses and determined that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the charges to a jury.

That man has a pending burglary charge out of King County. He was released from the King County Jail in early October after posting bond on an arrest warrant for failing to appear for a court hearing in the burglary case. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month in Snohomish County for possession of a stolen vehicle stemming from an Oct. 16, 2008, incident.

All the recent burglaries have occurred either at night or on weekends when the businesses are closed.

Dates and locations of stores hit in Everett are:

•Nov. 15 at 9801 19th Ave. SE;

Nov. 21 at 7405 Hardeson Road;

Nov. 22 at 10333 19th Ave. SE;

Nov. 26 at 4817 Evergreen Way;

Nov. 27 at 1519 132nd St. SE.

Police are recommending that business owners hire alarm professionals to install audible alarms and monitoring systems.

They also recommend not leaving cash at the business overnight.

“The public’s help is critical in solving these types of crimes,” Goetz said.

People witnessing suspicious activity around similar business can call 911, particularly at night and on the weekends.

Tips can be called in to 425-257–8450.