FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arrests
made in a series of burglaries.
February 24, 2004
On Sunday, February 22, 2004, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested three 15 year old boys in connection with several burglary reports early the same date. All three were taken into custody and are being held, pending court appearances. All three suspects are students at Chimacum High School. Two reside in Chimacum and one in Port Ludlow.
The arrests came after the father of one of the suspects reported finding several items in his son’s backpack that he suspected were stolen from a neighbor. Deputy Andy Pernsteiner subsequently arrested the youth and recovered property reported stolen in a residential burglary on West Kincaid St. in Irondale.
Further investigation by Deputies Pernsteiner, Brett Anglin and Brian Post connected the three youth to a Mason St. residential burglary that occurred on February 15, 2004, as well as burglaries to two Port Hadlock businesses and the Chimacum Middle and High Schools.
The suspects allegedly entered the Chimacum High School and broke several interior windows and stole cash, computer and digital photography equipment. The deputies estimated the suspects caused approximately $5,000.00 in damages, and the stolen property was valued at approximately $5,000.00. Video surveillance camera images as they moved through the school were helpful with identifying the suspects.
They have also connected to reported burglaries of the Bagel Haven, in the Shold Business Park, and the Port Hadlock Tobacco Shop in Kively Center.
Damage to the door at the Bagel Haven was reported to be approximately $250.00 and approximately $100.00 worth of food and drinks were reported stolen.
Damage to the door of the Tobacco Shop was reported to be approximately $250.00 and approximately $1,000.00 worth of tobacco products were stolen, including cartons of cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
One of the suspects has also been connected to the theft of a laptop computer from a Chimacum High School teacher, reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office last year, on November 24, 2003. The laptop was valued at approximately $1,000.00.
The investigating deputies estimated they were able to recover approximately 90% of the stolen property.