By Katherine Schiffner
Herald writer
EDMONDS — Something about the car just didn’t seem right.
The two-door older Toyota with heavily tinted windows looked out of place in Ray Martin’s Edmonds neighborhood, so Martin jotted down the license plate number and took a close look at the man inside the vehicle.
His observations on Feb. 20 helped lead police to two men who allegedly stole items from three Edmonds homes and more than 30 Seattle and King County residences, Edmonds Crime Prevention Officer Robin Heslop said.
"He did all the right things and showed he cares about his neighborhood," she said. "Most people do not write information down and follow through.
"It wouldn’t have come together had he not done what he’d done," Heslop said.
Martin, 69, a retired Metro Transit supervisor and former Navy pilot who lives in north Edmonds, said he tries to keep a close eye on his neighborhood.
After looking at the car with binoculars, Martin said he figured the man in the Toyota was just taking a lunch break. But one of his neighbors reported a burglary about a half-hour later, and Martin thought the car might have been involved.
"All of a sudden it just clicked," he said.
He reported the information to police. The license plate number led officers to a suspect from Bellevue, Heslop said. Police found property allegedly stolen from Edmonds homes inside the Toyota, Edmonds police Sgt. Mike Drinkwine said.
He said police believe a Seattle man was also involved in the Edmonds burglaries. Neither man has been charged in Snohomish County.
Heslop said a woman who lives near Martin also aided police by providing a description of one of the suspects. Heslop said the man may have been knocking on the door of the woman’s home Feb. 20 looking for unoccupied residences to burglarize.
Martin received a Gold Star award from Heslop for his help in the case, and he and his neighbors have started a Block Watch program.
"We encourage people to report anything that seems suspicious to them," Heslop said. "I always tell them that they’re the eyes and ears of the department. I tell them to write it down, like Ray Martin did."
You can call Herald Writer Katherine Schiffner at 425-339-3436 or send e-mail to schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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