MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — A one-man crime wave that spread through three counties has been traced back to Mountlake Terrace.
A man living there reportedly smuggled electronics out of an Arlington Walmart — twice in one morning — by hiding them under his clothes. He later knelt behind the counter of a Starbucks stand inside a Monroe grocery store, prying open the cash register. He walked out with nearly $300, police said.
Matthew Luxon has been tied to a string of crimes through surveillance footage over the past two years. The 34-year-old is known by police in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.
He reportedly told an officer in June that he struggles to keep track of the criminal charges. Prosecutors counted 13 pending felonies from three counties as of Dec. 19. He also is being held in jail for investigation of more than a dozen other crimes including criminal trespassing and malicious mischief.
Luxon once told police he was a college graduate. Years ago, he injured his hand and was prescribed Percocet for the pain, according to a probable cause affidavit. He became addicted and switched to heroin.
He told the officer he was doing anything he could to pay for drugs.
In April 2017, Luxon reportedly robbed two Starbucks stands in Monroe and Lake Stevens within hours of each other. Surveillance footage of the crime was shared among law enforcement. A Bellevue police detective recognized him. The department had previously investigated Luxon for a theft involving laptops.
In October 2016, the man reportedly stole more than $1,700 worth of merchandise from a Walmart in Arlington. It took two trips to carry everything out.
Surveillance footage showed a man entering Walmart around 7:40 a.m. He pulled a case holding Nintendo products off its hinges, according to court papers. The contents of the case were placed into a cart and then covered with a black jacket. Video shows him pushing the cart toward dressing rooms where he crawled under the door to a locked stall. He unlocked it from inside and brought in the stolen items.
He left within a half hour of entering the store.
The man returned around 9:50 a.m. that day, except in a blue jacket. He walked to the same broken case and grabbed a hand-held video game console that costs $300, according to court papers. He again walked outside to a silver Dodge Charger.
A Walmart employee noticed the suspicious behavior and later identified him as the theft suspect.
Luxon’s history led police to believe he may have been responsible for a March 19 break-in at a T-Mobile kiosk in Alderwood mall.
Employees closed up the kiosk around 7:45 p.m. They returned the next morning to find the cabinets open, as well as nine cell phones and two sets of headphones missing, according to court papers. The products were valued at more than $2,200.
Security footage showed a man wearing a black jacket entering the mall through a fire door. He walked over to the kiosk and reportedly left with the missing items in his hands.
Luxon is scheduled to appear in court for a plea and sentencing hearing for four Snohomish County cases Jan. 10.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
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