The North Snohomish County Property Crimes Unit is
investigating a series of burglaries of small power tools such as chain saws,
weed eaters, leaf blowers, etc. As part of the investigation, the unit served a
search warrant on a home-based online small equipment business. It is
investigating whether or not the business is trafficking in stolen equipment.
Allegedly, the business acted as a “chop shop” for stolen equipment like car
chop shops run by some car thieves.
Recently, Sheriff’s deputies have recovered a ledger of
makes and models of small power equipment, as well as heroin and
methamphetamine, during a car stop, indicating a listing of stolen equipment.
Deputies have heard of one burglary suspect trolling
neighborhoods where trees have been recently cut down in hopes of finding chain
saws. Near Cathcart, the suspect entered a garage and stole several guns from an
open safe. This was next to a house with a sheriff’s vehicle parked in the
driveway!
There are some things that you can do to take opportunity away
from potential burglars:
- Keep an inventory of your
tools including your power tools with serial numbers, pictures, and
descriptions. For tools that do not have serial numbers, engrave your own
unique number or series of characters to identify those tools as yours.
- When not in use, lock your
tools in cabinets and/or your garage or tool shed. And if you are working
on that project in the back yard, close and lock your garage door. Burglars
can easily enter your garage and take things without you knowing.
- If you are transporting
tools in your car or truck, keep them out of sight in the trunk or in a
locked box.
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