Robbery of California Ave. pet shop

Next to Nature, a pet supply shop located on 4543 California Ave. S.W., was broken into sometime after closing on Sun., Oct. 16. Between the time the last employee left the store around 8:30 p.m. and before opening the next day, the back door had been pried open and three interior doors damaged. The co-owner of the store discovered that the safe was open and money stolen. The suspect left behind a yellow screwdriver. Police believe that once inside the suspect went immediately to the office, since no other areas of the store were disturbed. The victim said about $1,500 was missing from the safe, as well as a spare set of keys to the store. The suspect also took an iPad and a computer. The security cameras did not capture the crime, causing police to believe that the suspect might have prior knowledge of the layout of the security system. A former employee, who was fired after admitting to long-term theft of the business, may be responsible. Officers were only able to locate one fingerprint.

Home robbed on Marine View Drive

Officers were dispatched to the 10800 block of Marine View Drive S.W. just after midnight on Sun., Oct. 16. The victim said that he left home around 6 p.m. to take his wife to the hospital. When he returned, he noticed that the bedroom had been ransacked and several of his belongings moved. Jewelry was missing. After searching the home, he found a window in the basement was broken. A brick was on the floor, surrounded by shattered glass. The police were unable to find any fingerprints. Photos of the crime scene were submitted to evidence.

Burglary ends in check fraud

A woman living on the 7100 block of 47th Avenue S.W. reported to police that her home had been burglarized sometime between 10 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 9 and 9 a.m. on Mon., Oct. 10, while she was asleep in her room. When she awoke, she found her bags out of place, and it appeared someone had gone through her belongings. The landlord asked her to leave her front door unlocked so the electric meter could be checked. The woman did not report the crime immediately, because nothing seemed to be missing. She and her roommate did change the locks, however. Then, when she arrived at work on Wed., Oct. 12, she discovered that a $390 check was cashed in her bank. She had not written or signed the check. The fraudulent check was entered into evidence, and police are still investigating.