EDMONDS — A spate of car break-ins has led Edmonds police to issue a warning for people to lock their vehicles and to call 911 if they see suspicious activity.
It has been a steady string of property crime since Jan. 1.
“Several dozen (break-ins) would be accurate,” police Sgt. Mark Marsh said. “It’s probably several different rings. This is unlike any rash we have seen for a couple of years at least.”
Police on two occasions have arrested several suspects.
“So much of it is narcotics related,” Marsh said.
Many of the cars were left unlocked and thieves typically stole cash, change, laptop computers, cell phones and garage door openers.
Often the thieves will hit an area repeatedly, he said.
The recent outbreak has centered in the Esperance area, downtown Edmonds and the north end of the city. Similar break-ins have occurred in Lynnwood and surrounding cities.
“This isn’t just us,” Marsh said.
The crimes often occur in neighborhoods and along side streets.
While most of the crimes involved unlocked vehicles, there have been cases where the crooks broke car windows to get inside.
Edmonds police officers suggest people lock their cars and don’t leave anything valuable inside, even briefly.
They suggest taking out garage door openers at night if parking outside.
They’re also urging people to call 911 if they see a vehicle or people that look out of place or seem suspicious.
“It’s tough to catch them if we don’t catch them in the act or people don’t call,” Marsh said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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