Prolific Auto Thieves Arrested in Ballard

Written by Detective Mark Jamieson 

Two suspects with a history of stealing cars were arrested yesterday afternoon in Ballard by officers, the North Precinct Anti-Crime Team and the Major Crimes Taskforce (MCTF).

On October 8th, police received a report of a car prowl in SODO. That evening, the victim from the car prowl returned to their home and discovered their other car, a Toyota SUV, had been stolen as well.

Two days later, on October 10th, MCTF detectives received information that two known wanted suspects were operating the stolen Toyota with different license plates, committing new crimes.  MCTF detectives, along with members of the North Precinct Anti-Crime Team and North Precinct patrol officers, located the stolen Toyota in the parking lot of a grocery store in the 1400 block of NW Market Street.  Officers observed the 36-year-old male suspect park the vehicle and then get out and walk into the store.  The passenger, a 31-year-old female, remained in the passenger seat.  North ACT officers arrested the male suspect inside the store after he briefly barricaded himself in a bathroom.

As uniformed officers moved into the arrest the female suspect, she slid over to the driver’s seat and attempted to flee in the stolen Toyota, ramming a patrol vehicle and an unoccupied vehicle in the process.  She was eventually stopped and arrested.

Officers confirmed the Toyota was stolen by checking the Vehicle Identification Number. The stolen Toyota was later taken to the processing room.  Both suspects were interviewed by MCTF detectives and admitted to being in several other stolen vehicles, car prowling, and being in a number of police pursuits in several different jurisdictions.

The man was booked into the King County Jail for felony warrants for residential burglary, attempted theft, attempted trafficking in stolen property and escape community custody.  He was also booked for investigation of possession of stolen vehicle.

The female was booked into jail for her felony warrant for escape community custody and for investigation of possession of a stolen vehicle and assault.

Major Crimes detectives continue to investigate.