Kirkland Police Arrest Key Suspects Behind Organized Retail Theft Ring
Published on March 05, 2024
Media Contact:
Sergeant Eric Karp
Kirkland Police Department
ekarp@kirklandwa.gov
425-587-3436
Case/Incident #24-6601
Kirkland, WA – Organized retail theft has been a concern for businesses in Kirkland and around the Puget Sound region for some time. Tackling these crimes continues to be a priority of the Kirkland Police Department (KPD). Kirkland officers, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, recently arrested three people believed to be part of an organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing $80,000 in merchandise from retailers in Kirkland and the greater Seattle area over the last several months.
The investigation began in January, when KPD officers arrested two people after a break-in at a Kirkland apartment building. These two suspects were linked to thefts at Lululemon at the Village at Totem Lake.
Then on February 28, Kirkland Police responded to a report that suspects stole $10,000 worth of leggings from Lululemon in Totem Lake. A KPD officer found the suspected vehicle and made a traffic stop on I-405. KPD police and patrol officers recovered the stolen goods. Officers took the three people in the vehicle into custody. Officers identified one of the individuals as a prolific organized retail theft suspect in the region.
That suspect and the two suspects arrested in January were identified as being linked to the same organized retail theft ring. Together, they are believed to be responsible for targeting Lululemon in Kirkland, burglarizing condos in Totem Lake Village, and using stolen vehicles from Burlington, Issaquah, Kirkland, and Seattle to carry out thefts in recent months.
The three suspects were booked into the King County Jail and charged with Organized Retail Theft and theft-related crimes.
This investigation was a collaboration between KPD’s Patrol and Pro-Act officers, Loss Prevention staff at retailers, the US Postal Inspector, the King County Sheriff’s Office, Bellevue PD, Issaquah PD, Auburn PD, Tukwila PD, Seattle PD and Burlington PD.
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