Thrift store peeping Tom worries Lynnwood police

LYNNWOOD – A store known for bargain clothes apparently became a place for cheap thrills.

Lynnwood police are looking for a man they suspect touched himself inappropriately at the Value Village thrift store in the 17200 block of Highway 99, spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. He also allegedly watched women changing in dressing rooms.

Police are concerned the man’s behavior appears to be escalating, she said. They now are asking for the public’s help to identify the man.

The suspect is described as a thinly built Hispanic man, in his late 20s or early 30s. He is about 5-foot-4 and appears to weigh about 140 pounds.

Workers at the Value Village store first noticed the man earlier this year, allegedly touching himself in the store’s aisles, she said.

On March 30, the man was seen again touching himself in the store, Sessions said. He then allegedly went into a changing room.

“He had actually made holes in the dressing room walls so he could look into the other dressing rooms,” she said.

Police believe the man engaged in lewd acts before leaving the store, Sessions said.

“He’s apparently escalating. He’s doing more things every time he comes back,” she said. “This is the way even worse crimes start out.”

Police are using the store’s video surveillance to try to identify the man and hope people might recognize the photo.

“We want to catch him before this crime escalates into sexual assault, stalking or rape,” Sessions said.

Lynnwood police are looking for a man they suspect may have watched women changing clothes at a thrift store. People with information about the man are asked to call detective Sean Gillebo at 425-744-6923.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.