LYNNWOOD- Prolific Criminal in Jail Again

Shannon Sessions, the Public Information Officer for the Lynnwood Police Department, has issued a press release concerning the recent apprehension of a convicted felon in Lynnwood. The full release is printed below. Please note her advice about opening your door to strangers at night and if you see a high police presence in your neighborhood:

A known violent offender and convicted felon was arrested in Lynnwood late Dec. 10 for investigation of Residential Burglary, Attempted Residential Burglary with Domestic Violence, Violating a no-contact order, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer and two counts of Malicious Mischief.

The 25-year-old Everett man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

Lynnwood Police responded to an apartment in the 5800 block of 204th St. SW. in Lynnwood just after 9 p.m. when a woman called 911 because her ex-boyfriend, who she had a no-contact order against, was attempting to gain entry into her home through a back window.

Police arrived on scene and found the suspect outside the front of the apartment. As soon as the suspect saw the officer he fled on foot. Containment was set up and a K9 track quickly ensued.

The suspect was tracked a couple blocks away to a condominium complex in the 5600 block of 200th St. SW. In the process of fleeing, the suspect broke fences and damaged property along the way.

Once at the condo complex on 200th, the suspect knocked on a back sliding door of an unknown and occupied unit. While engaging with the unknown woman resident who answered the door, the officers and K9 Unit rapidly approached. The suspect attempted to hide and then made a break for it inside the woman’s condo.

The suspect ran through the condo and out the front door with the Police K9 and handler trailing close behind –through the residence.

Due to the volume of containment police officers present from Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department—along with the police K9 right on his track, the suspect simply had nowhere to go.

In a final attempt to evade officers, the suspect sat on a nearby front porch and tried to mix in with other bystanders in the area. Officers soon saw and recognized him and he was taken into custody without incident.

This event did get a lot of attention from neighbors and bystanders around this area.

From a Crime Prevention standpoint it’s important to be cautious about who you open your door to, especially during dark hours. Also, if there is a high presence of police in your area, be sure to lock your doors and stay inside. Lastly, if you see or hear anything suspicious in your neighborhood, don’t hesitate to call 911, you may have that missing piece police need to solve a crime.

 

ESPERANCE- Sheriff’s Office Seeks Hit-and-Run Driver

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a hit-and-run driver who hit and injured a 15-year-old boy in the vicinity of 92^nd Ave W at 4:45pm on Monday in the Esperance area near Edmonds.

The boy was struck by a mirror of a passing truck. He was taken to a local hospital and released. The mirror broke off and police have it as evidence.

Sheriff’s Office detectives believe the truck was a Ford F-150 pickup with a light color, possibly gold.

If you have any information that can help detectives find this driver please call (425) 388-3845.

The Herald article: http://heraldnet.com/article/20121212/NEWS01/712129831#Police-seek-hit-and-run-driver-in-Edmonds-area

 

PUGET SOUND- Package Theft

While I have not heard of reports of package theft so far during this holiday season in South Snohomish County, the following two items show that it is going on in our region:

• According to the Seattle Police Blotter, on December 7, a white Toyota van was associated with four suspects stealing packages from front porches in West Seattle. One victim called 911 at around 11:43am, to report that a male suspect had just stolen a package from her front porch and entered a white Toyota van. Later in the day, around 3:30pm, another homeowner reported a package stolen from their front porch. This time a female suspect was seen stealing the package and getting into a white Toyota van. Minutes after the second report, an officer spotted the suspect vehicle. Four suspects, 3 males and 1 female were arrested. SPD Blotter- http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2012/12/07/four-grinches-who-tried-to-steal-christmas-dont-make-it-far/
• KING 5 TV reported that a package thief took Christmas gifts that had been left at a Renton home by Federal Express and left empty boxes in their place. The homeowner reviewed video from the cameras in the front of her house and called 911. The video revealed a white SUV backed up to the front of the house with the driver’s side door open. A male, wearing blue jeans, a blue coat and and hat, made his way around the back of the SUV. Renton police are looking for this suspect. KING 5 TV- http://www.king5.com/news/cities/renton/Thief-steals-Christmas-gifts-replaced-with-empty-boxes-182824741.html

 

Note: To prevent delivered packages from being stolen, try these actions:

• Have the package delivered to a trusted neighbor who is usually at home or have them pick up the package as soon as it is delivered from your house.
• Have the package placed on your back porch by the delivery driver.
• If possible, have the package delivered to your work.
• Encourage your neighbors to watch for suspicious people in your neighborhood and to watch for vehicles that seem to be following a UPS, FEDEX, or postal vehicle. If they see anything suspicious have them call 911.
• Track your package delivery online. This way you will know when your package was delivered.

 

EVERETT- Residential Burglary

On December 5, a homeowner, in the 1500 block of 81st Pl SE, arrived home in the afternoon and noticed that a light she had turned off in the morning was turned on. The homeowner contacted a neighbor for help. They checked the exterior of the house and did not see any signs of forced entry. The neighbor called 911.

Everett Police Department officers arrived at the house. After making announcements for anyone inside to come out, they searched the residence. They found a male hiding in an upstairs bedroom. He told the officers that a female, who he claimed was still in the house, let him in. Officers with a K-9 searched the house again, but found no one else in the house. The male was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County jail for burglary.

Note: It can be unnerving to think that a stranger is in your own home. This homeowner did take the right actions to handle this situation. When she discovered that something was not right in her home, she did not enter the home. She protected her own safety by staying out of the house. Then, she contacted a neighbor for help. They checked things out to gather more information without endangering themselves. Then they called for police to handle the heavy work of searching inside the house. For police and hopefully for the homeowner, this was a good day. No one was hurt, even the suspect, and the police apprehended a suspect in the act and chauffeured him to the “gray bar hotel.”

Everett Police Blotter- http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Everett-Police/241763425873463

NEW MARIJUANA LAW AND DUI- Panel Discussion on KRKO

Monday, December 10, between 5 & 7pm, radio station KRKO (1380) will broadcast a panel discussion about Washington State’s new marijuana law and driving under the influence (DUI).

On the panel will be:

• Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick
• Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe
• Washington State Liquor Control Board NW Regional Manager Tom Dixon
• Lynnwood Police Drug Recognition Expert Mark Brinkman
• Lynnwood Sergeant Wayne Davis
• A DUI Victim Panel Speaker
• A defense attorney from Russell Hill

Listeners will be encouraged to call in and ask questions.

 

BBB- Cyber-threats of 2013

BBB- Cyber-threats of 2013

As if we had enough threats with burglaries, car thefts, ID theft, scams thrown at us in the mail, on the phone and over the internet, the Better Business Bureau has come out with a list of potential cyber-threats to look out for in 2013. Their list of potential upcoming threats includes:

Cloud-Based Botnets: Cloud computing allows businesses to quickly add or subtract computing power, creating the potential for massive virtual networks to simultaneously send thousands of spam emails. A growing concern is that cloud computing resources will be purchased using credit card information obtained from phishing schemes. A botnet is a collection of computers each of which have been penetrated by malware giving control to the creator of the malware. The botnet then can distribute viruses or worms, distribute spam, conduct denial-of –service attacks, click fraud and other functions.

Search History Poisoning: Hackers attempt to bump illegitimate websites to the top of search engine results, and now, try to manipulate individuals’ search histories—according to the Emerging Cyber Threats Report 2013 from Georgia Tech (http://www.gtcybersecuritysummit.com/pdf/2013ThreatsReport.pdf). Compromised search histories can follow users from computer to computer, perpetuating the inaccurate results and increasing the likelihood of visiting malicious websites.

Mobile Wallet Vulnerabilities: Near field communication, or NFC—a technology which allows two devices to exchange data when in the proximity of each other—is being considered by many smartphone manufacturers, retailers and airlines. With this technology, near field scanners may attempt to capture stored credit card information from passersby.

Malicious Mobile Apps: The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recently issued an alert on malware in Android applications (http://www.ic3.gov/media/2012/121012.aspx). As the market for mobile applications expands, it is likely that this problem will increase.

Counterfeit QR Codes: A Quick Response Code is a two-dimensional scannable barcode that directs smartphone users to websites or downloadable content. Counterfeit QR Codes—often adhered over legitimate codes and unknowingly scanned—can download malware or lead to unsecure websites.

Note: The IC3 is a partnership between the FBI (www.fbi.gov ) and the National White Collar Crime Center (http://www.nw3c.org/ ) whose purpose is to take complaints about internet crimes, analyze those crimes and distribute information about internet crimes to federal, state, local and international law enforcement organizations. If you have been a victim of internet crime, report you can file a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

TRAVEL SECURITY- High Tech Hotel Room Lock Reportedly Hacked in Burglary

Last week I posted an article from the National Crime Prevention Council about holiday travel (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2012/11/holiday-travel-safety-some-tips-from.html). In late November, the national press reported on a burglary in a Texas hotel where the burglar bypassed the hotel room lock to gain entry.

The burglary occurred in a Houston Hyatt Hotel in September. The burglar inserted a tool into the DC plug on the underside of the lock. This allowed the burglar to read the lock’s memory and open the lock. This vulnerability is found only on one model of Onity locks, according to press reports. Onity is working to fix this vulnerability. (CNET report: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57554598-83/known-keycard-hack-suspected-in-hotel-room-burglary/)

This incident points out that even the most conscientious and sophisticated hotel security programs can be circumvented. Some things that you can do to protect yourself include:

• Leave valuables in the room safe or the hotel safe
• When you leave your room, hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of the door. Also, leave some lights on, and the TV or radio on.
• Check the door lock to be sure that it is working properly.
• If you see someone who seems to be loitering around your room, don’t go into your room. Report the loiterer immediately to the front desk!

For more suggestions on hotel security go to this Springfield Missouri Police Department tip sheet: https://www.springfieldmo.gov/spd/GeneralInfo/crimeprevtips/Vacation/hotelmotel.html

LYNNWOOD- Lynnwood Police Investigating Suspicious Male

This morning around 6:30am near the 18000 block of Highway 99 a 15-year-old Lynnwood girl was scared by an unknown male who got out of a parked car and spoke to her as she walked through a business parking lot toward her school bus stop. The girl ran away from the male.

The male is described as white with blonde hair in his mid to late 20s, 6 ft tall and medium build. He was wearing a gray jacket and blue jeans. He drove a late model two-door car.

The girl reported the incident to her mother and then to her school (Lynnwood High School in the unincorporated part of Snohomish County). Lynnwood High School officials, along with Edmonds School District officials are working with the Lynnwood Police Department about this incident.

If you have information regarding this incident call Lynnwood Police Det. Jorgensen at 425-670-5632.

You can also give information about the incident to:

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS or TEXT by entering the number 274637 (spells Crimes) on the “To” Line, then type Tip486 & what you want to say in the Message Box, after that hit the OK or SEND button

Or email http://www.crimestoppers.com/ and send in your anonymous crime tip. All tips are confidential and you could earn cash reward of up to $1000.

 

MILL CREEK- Traffic Congestion Around Schools

A good weekly column about local traffic is “Street Smarts” by Bill Sheets in The Herald. Readers send in problems and questions about neighborhood traffic issues and Mr. Sheets gets answers from local and state traffic agencies. It’s a good way to have an idea of how traffic engineers handle different traffic problems in the area.

In this morning’s column (http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121203/BLOG17/712039952#School-congestion-a-potential-hazard) a reader expresses concern about the heavy traffic around Cedar Wood Elementary School (near the intersection of 168th Avenue SE and 31st Drive SE).

During the beginning of school and the closing of school, parents line up along the streets waiting to drop off or pick up their children. This causes quite a bit of congestion that caused the reader concern about safety and access for emergency vehicles.

The county Public Works has seen an increase in congestion during drop off and pick up times around several schools in the county, not just at Cedar Wood Elementary. This is no doubt due to the recent cutbacks in bus transportation local school districts have had to make due to budget constraints.

Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for maintaining the roads in unincorporated Snohomish County. The kinds of problems that Public Works needs to handle are often varied. They may include congestion, speeding, safety at intersections, potholes and many other issues.

For more information about county roads and ways to contact Public Works about county roads, go to:

 http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Services/Roads/

 

HOLIDAY TRAVEL SAFETY- Some Tips from the National Crime Prevention Council

Here are some more holiday safety tips. With Christmas coming up, many of us will be traveling to see family in other parts of the country. The National Crime Prevention Council offers some travel advice (which is also good when you go on vacation in the summer):

NCPC suggests following these safety tips to avoid problems during your travels:

Personal Travel Plan: Think Before You Go

·         File a “travel plan.” Let someone know where you are going, the route you plan to take, when you plan to arrive and how to contact you. If you deviate from that plan, let someone know.

·         Travel with friends. There is safety in numbers.

·         Make sure your house appears “lived-in” when you are away. Lock all doors and windows, set household lights (inside and out) on timers.

·         Trim your hedges and bushes so thieves cannot have a place to hide out.

·         Have a neighbor park a car in your driveway to make it appear as if someone is home.

·         Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers while you are away or have them held at the post office.

·         Invest in an alarm. An alarm system controls access points to your home and lets you know if someone has invaded your space.

Driving: On the Road Again

·         Always lock your car doors. Keep valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk of your car.

·         Never pick up hitchhikers.

·         Park in well-lighted areas and close to the building.

·         Do not stop alongside the road if possible. If your car is bumped from behind or if someone indicates there is something wrong with your car, go to a service station or a well-lighted, populated area and call for help.

·         Fill the gas tank before dark; lock your car doors and roll up your windows if you step away from the car for any reason.

Travel Destination: Checking In

·         Use all hotel locks and other security devices, even when you’re in your room.

·         Store valuables in the room safe or in the facility’s main safe.

·         Don’t tell strangers the name of your hotel, your room number, or other personal information.

·         Guard your room keys. Don’t leave them unattended or visible at restaurants, the pool, or clubs.

·         Don’t prop open your door or open your door to strangers. Use the peep hole before opening the door.

·         Don’t leave your purse or bags unattended at hotel buffets or lounges.

Personal Safety: On the Town

·         Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Take only the cash you need in your purse or wallet.

·         Limit the number of credit cards you carry. Bring only the necessary credit card(s) with you and carry money separately from credit cards.

·         Women should keep purses closed and snuggled tightly against the body.

·         Men should keep wallets in a front pants pocket or coat pocket.

·         Know your route and stick to well-lighted, well-traveled streets.

·         If you feel threatened, get away and call for help, or try to go to a crowded place.

·         Always let someone know where you are going, who you are with, and when you will return.

·         Avoid going off with strangers, and always use the buddy system.

·         Avoid using alcohol and other drugs. Impaired judgment can put you in potentially dangerous situations.

·         Select ATM machines in visible, well-lighted locations.

Link:

http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=NCPCNew&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=106735&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True

 

AUTUMN MEADOWS- Attempted Burglary

On the evening of Wednesday, November 21, around 10:15pm, a burglar attempted to enter a house near the intersection of 44^th Dr. SE and 122^nd Pl SE in Autumn Meadows.

At that time, the alarm went off. The homeowner’s were upstairs. The wife called 911. The husband checked the downstairs, after arming himself. All he found was the front door wide open. Sheriff’s deputies checked the area for suspects.

SNOHOMISH COUNTY- Sheriff’s Office Newsletter with Holiday Safety Tips

SNOHOMISH COUNTY- Sheriff’s Office Newsletter with Holiday Safety Tips

This is the time of year for safety reminders. The major media in Puget Sound have already picked up on car prowls in shopping centers in some parts of the area. The Sheriff’s Office has released its holiday issue of “Partners in Crime Prevention” with more suggestions to protect yourself from becoming a victim:

http://sheriff.snoco.org/Documents/NovDec12.pdf

LYNNWOOD- Winter Weather Safety Tips

The holiday season is a time of year for many safety reminders. Shannon Sessions, the Public Information Officer for the Lynnwood Police Department has recently issued following press release with several winter safety reminders:

“We already know this is going to be a difficult winter. Experts are warning that this isn’t the last time we will have the threat of lower temperatures and/or snow.

In light of those anticipated weather warnings, it is expected that some people will search for alternative heating sources and/or try to save time by heating up their vehicles while inside and sipping that last bit of coffee or tea…

It is important to spread the word on the dangers of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and leaving warming vehicles running and unattended.

•       During the winter months, many people warm up their cars in the morning and then leave them unattended. Don’t do this! Not only is it against the law, but a running car is also an invitation to a car thief. TIP: cover your windshield with a towel each night which will keep it clear from the burden of the frost and/or snow.

•       Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate units away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

•       The primary hazards to avoid when using alternate sources for electricity, heating or cooking are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and fire. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that could kill without warning.

•       Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.

•       If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.

•       Call for help from the fresh air location and remain outside the location until emergency personnel arrive to assist you. “         

 

LYNNWOOD- Shred-A-Thon

Lynnwood High School’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) along with Frontline Shredding and the Alderwood-Terrace Rotary, is hosting a “Shred-A-thon” on Saturday November 17 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at in the Northlake Community Church parking lot, 19029 North Road, Bothell, WA 98012.

If you have a pile of documents with your Social Security Number, credit card account number, bank account numbers, etc. this is your chance to easily and safely have them destroyed so that an ID thief cannot use them to steal your identity.

This is a fundraising event for the FCCLA. Suggested donations are $5 for a small box/bag and $10 for a large box/bag. If you have more than 5 large boxes please contact the club advisor Molly McFadden.

If you have any questions, please contact Molly McFadden:

Phone: (425) 431-5262

Email:  McFaddenM@edmonds.wednet.edu

 

BOTHELL- Suspects Sought in Home Robbery

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is looking for three suspects in a home robbery in the 2400 block of 171^st St SE that occurred on November 14 at about 1:40pm.

The homeowner was apparently “pistol-whipped” by one of the robbers causing serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The three suspects, all believed to be in their 20’s are described as:

1. A tall black male wearing a blue and white jacket and blue jeans
2. A shorter black male wearing black shirt and gray pants
3. A tall white male wearing a hat and striped shirt

At least one of the suspects was believed to be carrying a gun.

If you have any information about the suspects please call 911.

Local coverage:

The Herald:

http://heraldnet.com/article/20121114/NEWS01/711149855#Suspects-sought-in-Bothell-armed-robbery-attempt%0A

KING TV 5 News:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Police-search-for-armed-robbers-who-pistol-whipped-Bothell-homeowner-179376071.html

KIRO TV 7 News:

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/police-searching-men-bothell-home-invasion/nS6hw/

 

 

LYNNWOOD- Sheriff’s Office Detectives Looking for Walmart Robber

Detectives from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s help in identify a robbery suspect who entered the Walmart store near 13^th Ave W and 164^th St SW at 2:30pm on October 26^th.

The suspect handed a clerk a note that said that he had a gun and demanded money. The suspect fled after receiving an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a thin 25 year-old white male between 150-175 lbs, 5’10”-5’11” tall with brown hair and sores on his face.  He was last seen wearing a dark “Lake Tahoe” hoodie, a gray or green bandana around his neck and what appeared to be a fur-lined trapper hat.

If you have any information about this suspect please call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office at (425) 388-3845

Sheriff’s Office press release:                                                                                                

http://sheriff.snoco.org/Press_Release/PR_Doc/2012/Nov/WalMart_Suspect.html

SNOHOMISH COUNTY- Crime Statistics Released

The Herald has summarized the 2011 crime statistics for cities in Snohomish County based on the recently released annual report from the FBI, “Crime in the United States.”

Herald article:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121113/BLOG41/121109762#FBI-shares-data-for-2011-crimes-by-community

FBI report “Crime in the United States:”

(http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/index-page ).”

For example, crime in Everett, compared to 2010, showed a decrease in rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, larceny/thefts, and motor vehicle thefts. The number of murders in Everett remained the same (5) compared to 2010. However, there was an increase in burglaries.

The latest statistics for unincorporated Snohomish County comes from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs website (http://www.waspc.org/index.php?d=54 ). The latest complete figures are for 2009 and 2010:

Year	Violent Total	Murder	Forcible Rape	Robbery	Aggravated Assault
2010	487	4	77	98	308
2009	546	10	80	126	330

 

Year	Property Total		Arson	Burglary	Larceny/Theft	Motor Vehicle Theft
2010	5,484		39	1,772	2,979	694
2009	6,096		53	2,228	3,063	752
Year	Crime Total
2010	5,971
2009	6,642

The total numbers show a slight decrease in each category from 2009 to 2010.

Some other interesting national crime statistics from the FBI:

2011 Crime Clock Statistics:

A violent crime occurred every        26.2 seconds

One murder every                               36.0 minutes

One forcible rape every                       6.3 minutes

One robbery every                              1.5 minutes

One aggravated assault every             42.0 seconds

 

A property crime occurred every      3.5 seconds

One burglary every                             14.4 seconds

One larceny-theft every                      5.1 seconds

One motor vehicle theft every           44.1 seconds

 

A law enforcement agency can “clear” or “close” an offense by making an arrest or through exceptional means (through the death of an offender, a victim’s refusal to cooperate with prosecution, or denial of extradition). According to the FBI, each class of crime is cleared as follows:

Violent Crimes:

• Murder- 64.8%
• Forcible rape- 41.2%
• Robbery- 28.7%
• Aggravated assault- 56.9%

Property Crimes:

• Burglary- 12.7%
• Larceny-theft- 21.5%
• Motor vehicle theft- 11.9%

Several factors probably account for the better clearance rates of violent crimes over property crimes:

1. Law enforcement agencies across the country emphasize going after violent crime offenders because these crimes involve the potential of injury and death to people. As a result, law enforcement agencies put much effort into solving violent crime cases and have developed sophisticated techniques to identify suspects.
2. Property crimes usually involve either theft of property or damage to property. Property can be replaced. Also, determining the offender can be extremely difficult. Most property crimes are discovered after a home or business has been broken into with no witnesses to give suspect information to the law enforcement agency. This is why many local law enforcement agencies encourage Neighborhood Watch programs to take steps to prevent crime, to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods, to keep a list of their more valuable belongings, and increasingly to put up cameras on their property.