MARYSVILLE — The burglars took less than three minutes.
They kicked down a door at Mark King’s house in the Whiskey Ridge neighborhood of Marysville on July 26. They grabbed a laundry basket. They swept off whole shelves and dumped drawers of goods into the basket.
They even stole family photos of King, his wife and their three young children.
During the burglary, the family’s two small dogs, Sophia the mini-Yorkshire Terrier and Duke the Chiweenie, cowered underneath the couch.
Marysville police arrived moments later. They worked the case. Four arrests were made. The suspects on Friday all remained in custody, King said.
Mark King, who’s worked at a local car dealership for 24 years, had installed surveillance video cameras on his property. Signs on the driveway warned people they were being recorded.
Not only were the crooks captured on camera, they also left more tangible evidence — a nose smudge on a window, and a cigarette butt.
Several of the suspects had stolen items in their cars when they were arrested.
The thieves also may be connected to burglaries throughout the region, according to the arrest reports.
Marysville police didn’t respond to Herald phone calls about the case. Documents show they’re trying to connect the dots, and get property back to its owners. They’re working with police in Everett, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Mount Vernon, among others.
Mark King had a colleague put a clip from his surveillance cameras on YouTube. He went on TV news shows and asked for tips. The video on Friday had more than 5,700 views.
“It gave the police an opportunity to do something, something to work with,” he said.
He estimated his loss in the burglary at more than $30,000. Some property has been recovered. Most hasn’t.
He worries about what would have happened if his wife and children had been home when the thieves broke in.
“Your sense of security has been taken,” he said Friday. “You’re violated. How do you get that security back?”
The case led the cops to a storage unit full of stolen goods. Mark King hopes some of it will get back to its owners.
He hopes it will ease their pain.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
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