BELLEVUE, Wash. — A 43-year-old man is facing numerous charges after using a stolen garage key door in the alleged burglary of over $100k in Bellevue.
Sometime before the burglary took place, a 64-year-old man parked his black BMW at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport just before an overseas trip. That BMW was allegedly stolen and used as part of the burglary. The two burglary suspects used the victim’s garage door remote to open the garage door and enter the property to steal.
“Officers when they were checking out the residence they noticed that there was no forced entry into the residence and it kind of tipped us off that there was more to the story,” said Drew Anderson, PIO for Bellevue PD.
The 43-year-old man was initially seen alongside another middle-aged man around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, July 10 when Bellevue police officers responded to an ongoing burglary at the 3600 block of Lake Washington Blvd SE. Police said the two were in the process of allegedly stealing merchandise from the residence including a safe with over $100,000 inside.
Once seen by officers both men attempted to elude police. The 43-year-old man was driving a stolen black Chevy Avalanche, but shortly after attempting to escape the vehicle became stuck between a tree and the Officer’s vehicle. He then left the Chevrolet and ran southbound onto Lake Washington Blvd SE.
Nearby bystanders told searching officers that the man went left the area driving a box truck with no license plates attached. Officers found him driving on an Interstate-90 onramp soon after.
Image of a box truck with no license plates attached that was used in an attempt to elude police after a home burglary. (Photo: Bellevue Police Department)
The second suspect, however, was able to elude police while driving the victim’s black BMW car which was previously reported as stolen from the airport. He immediately fled the scene once he saw the responding officers. Police said the man collided with an officer’s vehicle during his escape, which caused minor damage.
Image of a Bellevue Police Department patrol vehicle that was hit by a suspect during an attempt to elude officers after a home robbery. (Photo: Bellevue Police Department)
Police investigation found that the aforementioned burglary is one of two at that same home with the other happening a day before on Tuesday, July 11. The two suspects in Wednesday’s robbery matched the description of those from the Tuesday robbery. Officers noticed there was no forced entry with an alarm system engaged and all doors of the residence were locked when the suspects broke inside.
According to police, the two allegedly took a safe with paperwork inside, jewelry, and a Yeti cooler when they broke in at approximately 8:44 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Now, police are sounding the alarm for residents to take necessary steps to protect their vehicles.
“If you have a garage door remote in your vehicle and you park say in a public parking area or you’re making a simple errand, feel free to take that remote with you throw it in your purse throw it in your pocket,” said Anderson.
The 43-year-old suspect was arrested for residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, and hit and run of an unattended vehicle charges. The court found probable cause for vehicle theft and residential burglary and set his bail at $15,000.
Due to the second suspect still being at large, the Bellevue Police Department is continuing its investigation.
