THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Over the last week, homeowners in a gated community called Clearwood near Yelm say they've being "terrorized" by a burglar and prowler.
Thurston County Sheriff's deputies told KING 5 that they know who it is and partnered with a local agency to conduct a K9 search of the neighborhood on Sunday. However, they were unsuccessful.
"He actually broke into my car, and he got my garage key, and he got my gate key," said Bethany Stirber, a homeowner. "He tried to get into my garage while I was home and we scared him off, but then he keeps coming back. And then every time we call the cops, it's too — there's too much time."
Police response times are a concern for the Clearwood neighborhood because even though they are technically in the jurisdiction of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the nearest public safety building is in Yelm, a 15 minute drive away.
The longer he remains at large, the more community's concerns grow.
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office's public information officer said the suspected burglar has a warrant out for his arrest in Oregon. For this reason, if he is caught, they will have reason to arrest him. A supervisor within the office has informed deputies of the situation.
In the meantime, neighbors worry that their community's total lack of cellphone service makes them a vulnerable target.
"I caught him again on Sunday," said Stirber. "I called 911. I could hear them, and they couldn't hear me. And they didn't get here in time. He got away."
Stirber's run-ins with the suspect came days after her neighbor said he broke into his home while he was away.
"When I arrived Friday morning, I noticed there was a note on my kitchen table," said Eddie Andujo. "It says, 'I needed food, badly. I broke into your house. Please forgive me. I ate your food and washed my clothes and showered.'"
He continued, "And then he goes on to say. 'P.S. Your popcorn maker wasn't working properly.'"
Andujo thought he was being pranked.
"I thought it was a joke at first," he said.
But as he surveyed the home, he quickly learned this was anything but a joke.
"My kitchen window was broken. There's glass all over the sink and so forth," said Andujo.
He said nothing was taken.
"He made spaghetti," said Andujo. "But the funny part is, he washed his dishes. So he was a nice crook I guess, I don't know ... and he folded the blankets he used."
A "nice crook," a polite pest — whatever you want to call it — the neighbors are not happy.
"He knows what he's doing, and that alone just gives me the creeps," said Melissa Godoy, who has been an advocate for getting a cell tower put into their neighborhood.
Ashley O'Neil, another homeowner at Clearwood, said she and her husband tried to chase him down, but that he has evaded them.
"You never know where he is lurking, to be honest, and it's scary," said O'Neil.
A Thurston County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said it is not out of the question that they put an emphasis on patrolling the Clearwood community, but said their staffing roster is currently stretched thin.