EVERETT — A couple of lovebirds are now a pair of jailbirds after allegedly hatching a plan to rob a south Everett store to finance a love nest.
The suspects, both 18, have never been in trouble with the law until now.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Janice Albert charged the pair this week with first-degree robbery in connection with a heist at a Dollar Tree store in south Everett.
A third man, 26, also is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. He is accused of helping the couple plan the March 16 robbery, including giving them a plastic BB gun for use in the holdup and a hand-drawn map of the store.
The teens were in love and wanted to rent a place where they could stay together, Albert wrote. Because they didn’t have any money, they and a friend devised a plan to rob the store on 128th Street SW.
The older man used to work at the store. He drew them a map of the business and surrounding area. Then he gave them a small knife and a plastic BB gun, Albert wrote in court documents. They painted the toy black to make it look like a handgun. The teens agreed to rob the store while the older man waited nearby. They’d meet up later to split the take, Albert wrote.
The boyfriend and girlfriend walked to the store about 10 p.m. just as three employees were locking up. The girlfriend pointed the gun at one of the employees. The clerk dropped her wallet; one of the bandits picked it up and ordered the woman, 20, back inside.
The girlfriend held the gun on the woman and ordered her to hand over the cash from the store safe. Meanwhile, her boyfriend waved a knife at the other two teenage employees and told them to leave. One of them was worried the woman was going to get stabbed and stepped toward the bandit.
The robber held out the knife and said, “Don’t even think about it,” Albert wrote. The two employees ran off.
The pair got the money and fled to a nearby apartment building.
Their getaway was short-lived.
Several people called 911 to report seeing a man and woman jump a fence. They said the couple were still standing in a dumpster changing their clothes.
Police swarmed the complex and found clothing, a painted BB gun and a knife in the garbage bin. A police dog followed a scent from the Dollar Tree to the dumpster, then to a nearby park-and-ride lot and onto a waiting bus.
The lovebirds were sitting on the bus.
They confessed to the robbery, Albert wrote. They turned over the money and the employee’s wallet. They also told officers about their friend’s involvement in the heist.
Police saw that the older man had sent a text message asking the robbers where they were. The officer sent a message back and the man was arrested when he showed up near the park-and-ride.
He first told police he didn’t know the couple. Then he told police he thought they were just going to snatch a purse. He said he chickened out and stayed home instead of waiting for them at a Taco Bell, Albert wrote.
No one was injured in the robbery. The teens pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday. They were being held on $50,000 bail. The older man is expected to be in court on Monday.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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