Published July 20 2017
Investigators with the Bellevue police, along with detectives from the Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond and Kirkland police departments, joined forces to combat an organized group suspected of breaking into vehicles at numerous area parks and fitness centers. Investigators have made 11 arrests to date, and expect to make several more in the coming weeks.
The suspects are accused of working in coordinated teams of two to three, watching victims hide purses and wallets after parking in a park where walking trails are located, wait for the victim to leave, and then smash the window and take the hidden items. The suspects then use the victim’s stolen credit cards to purchase items at area stores. To date, Investigators have linked the suspects to over $100,000 worth of loss in Bellevue alone.
The suspects arrested so far are:
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- Treshaun Sinclair, 20;
- Leila Haji, 19;
- Ahjanie Thompson, 24 (arrested twice);
- Deionte Hunter, 20;
- Tevona Hollis, 20;
- Dwight Miles Jr., 24;
- Amara Smith, 19;
- Tatiana Dickey, 18;
- Leneeka Warren, 19;
- A 20 year-old woman not yet charged; and
- A 20 year-old man not yet charged.
Investigators have also linked many of these suspects to the individuals charged in the death of Moises Radcliffe, the son of a Seattle police officer, killed in Sammamish in January during an attempted car prowl at Beaver Lake Park.
In addition to the arrests, investigators have recovered two handguns that may be linked to shootings in South Seattle and King County earlier this year. The guns are being analyzed to see if they can be linked to additional crimes. Police have also seized three vehicles that were used in the commission of the felony crimes or were obtained through money laundering.
The combination of higher visibility in the parks by uniformed officers, public education and the intelligence and arrests by detectives working the operation have resulted in a significant drop in car prowls at Bellevue parks. Prevent these types of crimes by never leaving your valuables in your vehicle. LOCK, TAKE, LEAVE – lock your car, take your valuables with you or leave valuable items at home.