Police: Everett burglar admits to 16 break-ins

EVERETT — A “prolific” burglary suspect reportedly admitted to breaking into 16 businesses in the Everett area, according to police.

“Recently our patrol officers noticed an increase in burglaries of restaurants and businesses in the downtown area,” reads a statement posted online by the department. “While investigating these crimes they noted that they often had a similar method of entry, the suspect would break or unlock small windows up high and climb through them.”

Just before noon Monday, police were called to a barber shop on Colby Avenue in Everett, police wrote in a report. The caller reported glass had been smashed out at her business. The neighboring business had been broken into the week prior, too. Both break-ins were reportedly caught on security cameras.

In both cases, footage showed a man in a “green-brimmed flat bill hat, black hoodie, tighter pants, a black belt with shiny silver studs, and darker-colored work boots,” breaking glass above both shops’ front doors, climbing up the door and falling into the business, police wrote.

Police identified the suspect, 30, through the footage and arrested him March 8. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of two counts of second-degree burglary.

According to detectives, the suspect admitted to 14 more burglaries. The suspect posted $2,500 bond Thursday.

Everett police officer Kerby Duncan told The Daily Herald the department cannot release any information about the other 14 cases.

“Our detectives are still doing their legwork,” Duncan said. “While (the suspect) confessed to 16 (burglaries), we still need to make sure they can properly charge all of them. There will be more charges coming.”

Ellen Dennis: 425-339-3486; edennis@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @reporterellen.