EVERETT — An Oregon man accused of shooting his way into Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood after business hours and then firing into a shop entrance to steal high-end sneakers admitted to multiple mall burglaries after his arrest Wednesday, police said.
Members of the Snohomish County Violent Offender Task Force arrested the 42-year-old Wednesday outside a Pierce County apartment.
Deputies say the the nine-time convicted felon is linked to multiple business burglaries, including Sneak City at Alderwood Mall on Jan, 18 and a jewelry store at South Hill Mall in Puyallup on Feb. 10. After his arrest, police discovered an AR-style rifle in his vehicle, according to probable cause statement.
Around 4:50 a.m. Jan. 18, Lynnwood police responded to a report of a burglary at Sneak City inside Alderwood Mall. Police report finding shattered glass and three missing pairs of collectible sneakers valued at approximately $20,000. Surveillance footage showed a suspect using a firearm to shoot through the entrance before taking the high-end shoes, according to a probable cause statement. Another burglary on Jan. 11 at Lucky Dog, a sneaker store in Seattle, had resulted in a loss of $5,000 in merchandise. Authorities later linked the man to both cases.
Police identified the suspect through security footage and pawn records, and discovered that he had sold stolen items to a business in Kent. His online history showed searches related to the burglarized stores before and after the crimes, according to police documents.
On Feb. 10, a similar burglary occurred at South Hill Mall in Puyallup. Surveillance footage during the South Hill Mall burglary showed a suspect using a firearm and an axe to break into a jewelry kiosk. The video showed another female jumping on top of the display case in an attempt to shatter the glass, according to police reports. The estimated loss in stolen jewelry was $45,577.94.
Investigators noted similarities in both the suspect’s appearance in surveillance footage and the nature of the crimes between the Puyallup burglary and those in Lynnwood and Seattle, leading them to suspect the man.
They also found some of the stolen merchandise for sale at discounted prices, often using online platforms and resale shops, according to the probable cause statement.
After his arrest, the suspect confessed to the burglaries at Alderwood Mall, South Hill Mall, and additional break-ins at Southcenter Mall and Tacoma Mall, police said in a probable cause statement. He also confessed to using a firearm in all of the incidents and acknowledged his ongoing methamphetamine use, which he said contributed to his actions. Macy’s Regional Loss Prevention estimates that thefts at the Tacoma Mall and Southcenter Mall totaled approximately $200,000.
The man is also wanted in Oregon for larceny, according to documents. During a court appearance Friday, he waived his extradition rights. Because of the waiver, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge George Appel did not set bail for the suspect.
Aspen Anderson: 425-339-3192; aspen.anderson@heraldnet.com; X: @aspenwanderson.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
