Category Archives: sheriff’s department

Sheriff’s Cold Weather Tips

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From the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, we received today these Cold Weather Tips:

The Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a very Happy Holiday Season. In recent days we have reached record low temperatures. I would like to provide a few safety tips for this cold weather season.

  • Dress in layered clothing and wear some sort of head gear/covering.
  • Check space heaters for sufficient ventilation and wire condition.
  • Do not use charcoal or gas grills indoors.
  • Check on your neighbors – especially the elderly.
  • Keep pets inside.
  • Never use an electric generator indoors, inside the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Insulate any water lines that run along outer walls.
  • Prepare your home and car for cold weather.
  • Have a week’s worth of food and safety supplies.
  • Keep a water supply.
  • Parents: With the cold temperatures many ponds and lakes are beginning to freeze. While children may feel that it makes for a great place to play, it’s actually very dangerous. Please keep your children safe and do not allow them to play on frozen ponds or lakes.

Contact info: If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 786-5500.

Sheriff Attempting to Identify Attempted Kidnapping Suspect

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From a Thurston County Sheriff Department news release:

On August 26th, around 1230 P.M. a female resident of the 8300 block of 49th Loop SE was contacted by an adult male at her home. The male stated he had a court order signed by a Thurston County Superior Court judge for her to surrender her children to him based on allegations made against her by her husband. The woman asked to see the court order and he refused. She told him that without talking to a Deputy or her husband she would not give up her children. She then shut and locked her door. The male suspect then left in a white mini-van. The suspect made no attempt to force entry or take any other action to seize the children. A check of court orders did not find any order involving the victim, her children, or her husband at this time. The husband was contacted and he did not have any knowledge of the incident and had not been granted any court orders. The victim’s three children, ages 5, 3, and 6 months are safe.

The suspect used the name Michael Jenkins but did not show any identification. He is described as a white male adult, approximately mid to late 40’s, 5’6″, thin build, dark brown hair with a full beard and dark rimmed glasses. He was wearing a dark charcoal suit jacket and slacks. There are no Michael Jenkins employed in either the Superior Court or Child Protective Services or the Sheriff’s Office.

A Deputy Sheriff trained as a sketch artist was able to create the attached drawing of the suspect from the victim’s description. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help in identifying this man. Also the public should not allow anyone using this type of ruse into their home. If they are other victims of similar attempts, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office would like to know about them. Please call 360-709-3072 or Crime Stoppers at 493-2222 if you have any information.

Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain, 360-786-5659
Detective Lt. Chris Mealy, 360-786-5508

Click here to read the notice and to view a larger image of the artist’s sketch of the suspect.

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Quarterly Newsletter

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We received today a copy of the Sheriff Department’s Quarterly Newsletter. We cannot yet find it, on their web site, but you can click here and retrieve your own copy.

Sheriff Dan Kimball has taken heat, recently, over proposed cuts in the Department’s budget (click here and here for more information). While the County’s budget issues cast a shadow over activities in all departments of the County government, there is other news to report, in the Newsletter.

Chief Jim Chamberlain wrote an article describing the Sheriff’s Office Registered Sex Offender Program and Stanley Phillips penned a piece regarding the Crime Victim Advocacy Network. This is a consortium of trained advocates providing free and confidential services to victims of crimes in Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Pacific Counties.

Visit the Sheriff’s Department web site at www.thurstonsheriff.org for information on a variety of local public safety issues.

Recent Vehicle Prowls (Not in Our Neighborhood) Have Lessons for All

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The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office released today a Community Alert regarding incidents of vehicle prowls, mostly over on the other side of Eld Inlet. Although not in our immediate area, the Community Alert contains some crime prevention tips that are useful to us all.

Date: March 5, 2009
Neighborhood/ Area: Northwest Thurston County
Nature of alert: Vehicle Prowls

Details: Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies responded to three vehicle prowls that occurred in the 2400 block of Cooperfield Dr. NW, 6300 block of Tamoshan Dr. NW, and the 6400 block Tralee Dr. NW. These vehicle prowls occurred between the night of the 4th and early morning hours of the 5th.

Contact info: Report all suspicious activity by calling 911 or the non-emergency dispatch number (360) 704-2740

Crime Prevention Tips:

Make sure your vehicle is secure and all doors and windows are closed.

Remember to ensure that all valuables are hidden and not easily visible.

Do not leave purses, wallets, electronic devices, and valuable information in your vehicle.

Keep a record of all serial and model numbers of electronic devices left in the vehicle.

Often times, Sheriff’s deputies locate items that they suspect may be stolen. They are however not able to confirm this because the victims had not recorded serial and model numbers.

Park your vehicle in a well lit area.

To receive future Community Alerts and/ or to subscribe to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Quarterly Newsletter, log on to www.thurstonsheriff.org.

Thurston County Sheriff Alert: Armed Robbery at Subway

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At approximately 8:45 PM Friday, January 30th. an 18-year old female clerk working alone at the Subway sandwich shop located at 6541 Sexton Dr NW Olympia was robbed at gun point.

Two African American males, each wearing dark clothing, gloves, and a gray colored ski mask entered the business and ordered the employee to empty the cash register.

After giving the money to the robbers the employee was ordered to the rear of the business where her hands and legs were tied using plastic flex ties. The gunmen fled through the front door; a vehicle was heard leaving the area.

Based on the employee’s description and images from a surveillance tape the suspects appeared to be between 20-25 years of age. One appeared to be 6’5” or taller weighing about 250 pounds. He was also carrying a large handgun. The second man appeared to about 5’8” tall.

The case has been assigned to the Detective Division. At this time we do not know the identity of the suspects or have a vehicle description.

If you have any information, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786-5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.

To view the store video click on this link: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/sheriff/alertsvideo.htm

To receive future Community Alerts and/ or to subscribe to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Quarterly Newsletter, log on to www.thurstonsheriff.org.

Sheriff’s Department Community Alert

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Date: January 23, 2009

Neighborhood/Area: Northwest / Steamboat Island

Nature of alert: Residential Burglaries

Details: In the past two weeks, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has responded to five Residential Burglaries in the area of Keating Rd., Gravelly Beach Lp. NW, Steamboat Island Rd. NW, and Island Dr. NW. At this time there are no known suspects.

Entry has been gained through the garage door. It appears that if the garage door is locked; the suspect (s) have been using a device such as a credit card to “jimmy” the lock. Two of the burglaries reported have occurred at night time.

Contact info: If you have information on these incidents, please call Detective Lieutenant Chris Mealy at (360) 786-5508.

Crime Prevention Tips: Make your residence appear as if someone is home: leave a light or television on.

(You can also use timers)

Make sure your residence is secured.

Window blinds should be open.

Inform a neighbor if you are going to be away for the night or longer.

If you have a monitored alarm system, make sure that the alarm company knows how to contact you. If your alarm is not monitored and is audible outside make sure your neighbors know how to contact you.

Note: Most all burglaries occur in the late morning to early afternoon hours (While we are at work)

Report all suspicious activity by calling 911 or the non-emergency dispatch number (360) 704-2740

COMMUNITY ALERT: Catalytic Converter Thefts

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On November 7th the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has released a Community Alert regarding “a recent rash of thefts of vehicle’s catalytic converters, particularly in residential areas.”

If you have any information which may lead to those perpetrating these thefts, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786- 5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.

The entire contents of the notice reads:

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has seen a recent rash of thefts of vehicle’s catalytic converters, particularly in residential areas. Due to the fact that these converters are found in exterior locations and that valuable precious metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium are used in their construction, converters are a target for thieves. With scrap metal being a common avenue for the criminal element to make money, each of these converters are valuable commodities. The problem is especially common among late-model Toyota trucks and SUVs, due to their high ground clearance and easily-removed bolt-on catalytic converters. Welded-in converters are also at risk of theft from SUVs and trucks, as they can be easily removed with a battery powered reciprocating saw. The saw removal of the converter can often inadvertently damage the car’s wiring or fuel line resulting in dangerous consequences.

Thieves can get $40 to $100 for a converter from an unscrupulous scrap metal dealer. Toyota 4Runners are particular targets — not only do their catalytic converters contain plenty of platinum, their high ground clearance makes them particularly easy targets. A thief with a socket wrench can remove a 4Runner’s converter in minutes.

Since thieves crawl under the vehicle to remove the converter, it is easy to hide while the crime is taking place. Most victims report that they didn’t hear anything during the night – leading us to believe that speed wrenches or normal hand tools are used around residences. Each unit weighs less than 8 pounds, and is easily lifted and moved.

The nature of this crime makes repeat occurrences attractive, since the converter needs to be replaced for the vehicle to be operated. The only real way to protect against the crime is to make sure that the vehicle is stored inside.

Since many of us don’t have the option of storing our vehicles inside, it is important to remember that lighting is a thief’s enemy. Make sure that you have adequate outdoor lighting illuminating your driveway or vehicle storage area. Report any suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately. Know who your neighbors are and consider forming a Neighborhood Watch program.

For information on forming a Neighborhood Watch, contact the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Division at (360) 786-5855.

Contact info: If you have any information, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786- 5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Releases Video of Gravelly Beach Break-In

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The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has released more information which neighbors may be able to use to help nab the perpetrators of one or more of what’s developing to be a string of daytime burglaries in the area of Gravelly Beach Loop.

As was written previously here, a home was broken in to, on January 22, in the 4800 block of Gravelly Beach Loop. The incident occurred between 11:00 AM and 4:55 PM.

Since January 22nd, two more break-ins have occurred, in the same area. The Sheriff’s Office has now released new information which may help us to capture those responsible.

From the Sheriff’s Office release:

Sheriff seeks identity of teenage burglars

Three residential burglaries have occurred in the last 2 weeks in the Gravelly Beach Rd. N.W. off Steamboat Island Rd. N.W. area. They occurred on 1/22/08, 2/5/08, and 2/6/08. The suspects appear to be operating during the daytime hours. They have taken over $25,000 worth of guns, jewelry, electronic items, and a 1992 Toyota Camry, taupe in color, WA. License 467 RLS. In one burglary, on Wednesday 02/06/08, the suspects were seen by a surveillance camera and captured on video. The Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying these suspects before they can commit any more crimes.

We believe that there are probably at least two suspects. Both appear to be white males in their late teens to early twenties. The video shows that they are driving a van that is probably blue or gray in color. In the video the suspects changed hats several times which gives the appearance of several suspects.

A video is available here.

Here are some stills from the video. Do you recognize any of these people?

If you have any information which might advance this investigation, please contact Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain, 360-786-5659 or Detective Lt. Chris Mealy, 360-786-5508.

UPDATED: The Olympian is reporting that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mitchell E. Coxwell, 23, living on Steamboat Island Road. According to the news article, “Detectives think he is driving a stolen blue Volkswagen Passat with Washington license plate 642RMC.”

Thurston County Sheriff Needs Your Help to Solve Jan 22 Burglary on Gravelly Beach Loop

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On January 22, 2008 Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a residential burglary complaint at the 4800 block of Gravelly Beach Loop. The victim discovered that the rear glass door had been broken and this is believed to be where entry was gained. The incident occurred between 11:00 AM and 4:55 PM.

Neighbors observed a black mid 1990’s Ford Ranger with silver colored tool box leaving the area at a high rate of speed around 3:45 PM.

If you have any information that could help solve this crime please contact the Thurston County Sheriffs Office.

Contact Info: Any information should be called in to the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786-5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.

Tips and Hints:

  • Report all suspicious persons/vehicles.
  • Make sure all doors and windows secured.
  • Leave blinds open.
  • If you have an alarm system, make sure that it is activated and operational.
  • Have an inventory of all valuables, record serial/model numbers

Most residential burglaries occur in late morning to early afternoon hours, while we are at work.

UPDATE: The Sheriff’s Office now has video and more details, following two more daytime burglaries in the same area. Click here to read the update.

Thieves Break In to Steamboat Island Espresso – Information Sought

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The Olympian is reporting that thieves broke into the Steamboat Coffee Shop this last Wednesday night. They broke a window and, after all that damage, came away with $5 in change.

This is a local business, run by our neighbors. If you know anything about this break-in, please contact the Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

And, if you’re in the mood for a beverage, please stop by Steamboat Island Coffee Shop. They do a fine job and we’ve every reason to want to see this local business thrive.

Here’s how the incident was reported in The Olympian:

Thieves broke a $75 window to gain access to an espresso stand on Steamboat Island Road near Sexton Drive N.W. Wednesday [June 27] morning and made off with about $5 in change from the stand’s money box, Lt. Chris Mealy of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said today.

The burglary took place sometime between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Wednesday at Steamboat Espresso located at 3403 Steamboat Island Road N.W.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.