BELLEVUE, Wash. — Bellevue police are asking for the public's help in tracking down two suspects connected to a series of burglaries at vacant homes that are for sale or under construction.
The Bellevue Police Department (BPD) said officers have responded to eight burglaries with a common set of circumstances over the past two months. Suspects find their way into a vacant home and take thousands of dollars worth of "high-end appliances," according to police.
“For these suspects, this is a low-risk, high-reward proposition. They know there’s a small chance they’ll get caught and they’re selling these online for a large sum of money,” said Seth Tyler, a public information officer with Bellevue Police Department. “In some instances they would show up and put everything in the garage and wouldn't steal anything and come back the next day with a truck and load everything into the truck."
Police said one suspect has been taken into custody, but two others are still being sought. Video surveillance from one of the burglaries was released, where one unmasked and one masked subject was seen inside a residence.
Police did catch one suspect by comparing the serial number of a stolen appliance with one for sale online.
“If there's a takeaway here, it’s to record the serial number of any valuables, appliances, electronics, and those can be entered into a national database if they’re ever stolen, and that can help in recovery,” Tyler said.
The BPD is soliciting online tips that can be sent to Crimestoppers. There is a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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