LYNNWOOD- Survey Emphasizes Car Prowl Prevention

This is the time of year when police departments and the Sheriff’s Office reminds all of us to secure our vehicles from car prowlers. With the holiday shopping season rapidly approaching thieves have many opportunities to take valuables left in view in cars. But the risk of becoming a victim of a car prowl can happen wherever you park your car; at the park and ride, the parking lot at work or school, or at home.

On October 28-29, the Lynnwood Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit along with the Volunteers in Public Safety (VIPS) surveyed the parking lots of Edmonds Community College for vehicles that could be easy targets for car prowlers. The purpose was to educate the public on how it could protect itself from becoming car prowl victims.

Car prowl thieves look for anything of value that they can sell or use for other crimes such as ID Theft. That can include loose change, purses, wallets, back packs, briefcases, mail, legal documents, laptops, cellphones, CD’s, sunglasses, any retail purchases, clothing, sporting gear, medicine, GPS, tools and garage door openers.

Of 270 cars surveyed, the survey team found that half would be “easy targets.” The rule of thumb to having a safe car from car prowlers is to have nothing visible from the outside. Things that the team found that would make a car an easy target included charger cords (suggesting that there was a cell phone or Ipod in the car), purses, skateboards, open windows, unlocked cars, GPS units, Ipods, cellphones, expensive looking boots and clothing, personal ID and food (car prowlers get hungry too).

The survey team left educational flyers with each vehicle that was considered to be easy targets.

The Lynnwood PD Crime Prevention Unit recommends taking the following actions to protect your car and valuables from car prowlers:

• Shut and lock all doors, windows and sun roofs.
• Consider installing a car alarm or vehicle tracking system. This helps discourage car prowlers and car thieves.
• Consider using a steering wheel locking device.
• Use a locking fuel cap.
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
• Take your keys with you. Do not leave them in your vehicle.
• Never leave a vehicle running unattended. Winter is the time of year when some people warm up their cars while they get ready to leave home for work. Also, sometimes people will leave the car running while they make a “quick” run into a convenience store. Both are good situations for thieves to steal your car.
• Do not leave items with personal information in your car.
• Park in well-lit, visible areas.

 

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20141030/BLOG17/141039875/Are-you-an-easy-target-for-car-prowlers

 

LYNNWOOD- Sheriff’s Office Looking for Two Assailants

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two assailants who attacked and robbed a taxi driver around midnight on December 3. The assailants stole cash and a credit card in addition to beating the taxi driver in the vicinity of the 16600 block of Sixth Avenue W. in Lynnwood. The assailants forced the driver to go to a convenience store to withdraw money from an ATM. When that effort failed, the assailants fled.

One suspect is believed to be Eric T. Johnson, 27 (shown in the accompanying picture). Johnson is known to frequent bus stops and homeless shelters in the south Everett, Lynnwood and north Seattle area. The other suspect has not been identified.  He is white, about 6 feet tall, and weighs around 200 pounds. During the crime he wore glasses.

If you have any information about the two suspects please call the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 425-388-3845.

For more information, and pictures, about this crime go to:

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20131209/NEWS01/712099826

KIRO TV-

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/cab-driver-attacked-and-robbed/ncGc3/

 

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.

 

LYNNWOOD- Meeting on Burglary Prevention

Last night, (March 12), the Lynnwood Police Department hosted a meeting on burglary prevention with about 25 citizens in attendance. Shannon Sessions, Crime Prevention Specialist and Public Information Office for Lynnwood PD plus two property crime and burglary detectives emphasized several times that burglaries are up in Lynnwood and in the Puget Sound Region.

This chart shows total burglaries for 2011` compared to burglaries to date for 2012 in Lynnwood:

Burglary Type	Total for
	2011	2012 (YTD)
Residential	155	23
Commercial	79	10

Shannon Sessions started out with the following tips to prevent burglaries:

            • "use your 6th sense" when in your neighborhood. If something or someone seems out of place or suspicious call 911 and report it.

            • 911 (SNOCOM): The 911 agency that services Lynnwood PD is called SNOCOM. SNOCOM also services Brier, Edmonds, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Fire District 1 and Woodway.

                        ○ Its best to call 911 from a landline if you can. This is because with Enhanced 911, the call taker will have your address displayed on their display. The call taker may ask you for your address, but this is to verify that their display is correct.

                        ○ Cell phones: 911 does not necessarily have a GPS position on your cell phone. Be sure to know where you are before you call 911 using your cell/smart phone.

            • Call 911 if you are broken into, even if "there was little damage" or "nothing was stolen."

             • Operation ID- Don't use your Washington State Driver’s License number for engraving certain valuables. For many years, Crime Prevention Officers have recommended engraving the driver’s license number on valuables (like tools and electronics). This allowed police agencies to look up the owner if they came across stolen property and had no reports on file of who the rightful owner is. Apparently, burglars have been using the number in ID theft. The detectives recommended that now, you make up your own unique code or sign and document that code in your household inventory. Note: NEVER engrave your Social Security Number on anything. Police agencies do not have access to your name through your Social Security Number, but ID thieves would be able to use your Social Security Number.

.            • Burglars are taking jewelry. Take photos of your jewelry!

            • Alarms do help, especially alarms that make noise.

            • Single women- Make it look like a man is around. If someone that you do not recognize is at the door, come to the door like you are on the phone.

            • Motion sensor lights- Place them where you can observe them. This way, if they go off at night, you can take a look at what is going on outside.

            • Install a dead bolt lock in the door between your garage and your house. Thieves have been known to take garage door openers out of vehicles parked outside of a house, opening the garage door then entering the house.

The detectives talked about how burglars work and the Lynnwood PD’s response to burglary calls:

MO- Most burglars do not research their targets for several days. 1 to 3 burglars may work a neighborhood. They may leave their car within a block or two of their target neighborhood. They will walk in the neighborhood looking for targets of opportunity. One burglar will choose a house then knock on the door to see if anyone answers. If there is an answer, the burglar might say "Does Jeff live here?" or “I need gas” (and the less prepared will not have a gas can). If you answer the door to one of these suspicious people, call 911immediately with a description.

If there is no answer, the burglar may try to kick down the front door (here is where your dead bolt and the 3 inch or longer screws become important) or go to the back of your house to enter through your sliding glass door (got your Charlie Bar installed?).

The burglar is in the house for just a few minutes. He/she will take jewelry (most popular now) cash, guns and portable electronics.

Lynnwood Police response- When the police department receives a call that a burglary is in progress, it comes running to the scene with all available units.

When it receives a “cold” burglary report, it is still interested in the information. A cold burglary is where you come home to discover that your home has been burglarized but you do not know who did it or when it happened. The detectives emphasized that they are still interested in any information that you can provide. Especially, as detailed information as possible about what was stolen. While this information may not help you to see your burglar arrested, it may help another victim and it may help to recover your property.

If you live within the Lynnwood city limits and have questions about burglary prevention, contact Shannon Sessions at ssessions@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

LYNNWOOD- $3,000 Wheel Chair Found

LYNNWOOD- $3,000 Wheel Chair Found


The stolen truck that had the $3,000 wheel chair this is used by a boy with cerebral palsy has been found.

For more information go to KING 5 TV:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Stolen-truck-for-special-needs-boy-found-104389519.html

LYNNWOOD- $3,000 Wheel Chair for Special Needs Boy Stolen

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office is looking for a red 1994 GMC Jimmy truck that was stolen from a Lynnwood apartment complex. The truck contained a $3,000 wheel chair that was used by a boy who has cerebral palsy, doesn't walk, talk or feed himself. And he is blind.

The Washington license number for the Jimmy is 908 VSU. If you see this vehicle please call 911.

For more information about this situation go to KING 5 TV:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Special-Needs-Theft-104311979.html

LYNNWOOD- Missing Person- Cassandra Lennon

Lynnwood PD is looking for Cassandra “Casey” Lennon as a missing person. She was last seen at the Barnes & Noble near Alderwood Mall on September 15, 2010. She may be driving a white 2004 Subaru station wagon (Washington license plate 491-RZU).

Police consider her endangered because of an unspecified medical condition.

Cassandra Lennon is white with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5ft 3in and 160 pounds.

If you see or know where Cassandra is located, please contact Detective Post at phone: (425) 670-5620, email: epost@ci.lynnwood.wa.us. Refer to case number 10-07788.

Article from this morning’s The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100922/NEWS01/709219777

LYNNWOOD- Robbery Suspect Update

Lynnwood PD believes that they have apprehended a suspect that robbed an elderly couple of a purse at Alderwood Mall on Wednesday afternoon. According to The Herald, a 25 year old Everett man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery on Friday in connection to this incident.

The Herald:

http://bit.ly/aDy9QA

LYNNWOOD- PD Seeks Robbery Suspect

Lynnwood PD is seeking a man who robbed an elderly couple of a purse at Alderwood Mall in the late afternoon of Wednesday.

The man is described as white, in his mid-20's, with brown hair and was wearing a dark work coat, red shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about this man please call detective Ross Adams of the Lynnwood PD at (425) 670-5614.

The Herald:
http://bit.ly/cUDNtn