A major bust went down in the Capitol Hill neighborhood on February 19, when a 26-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl were nabbed for what cops say was a spree of organized retail theft. The duo is accused of lifting more than $3,000 worth of threads from a University Village shopping center store before high-tailing it out, but not before they were caught on camera, leading to their capture.
The merchant, quick to act, dialed 911 and supplied the police with photos, video surveillance, and a description of the getaway vehicle. North Precinct officers, who were privy to a tip that the suspects had hightailed it to Capitol Hill, joined forces with East Precinct officers resulting in the arrest of the suspects on the 600 block of 23rd Avenue East.
The older suspect's checkered past came to light during a records check, revealing a string of felony warrants from various jurisdictions for similar organized retail theft charges. A statement obtained by the Seattle Police Department disclosed her subsequent booking into King County Jail on suspicion of Organized Retail Theft, with their vehicle impounded for further investigation.
A search warrant executed by officers turned the suspects' vehicle inside out, revealing not only the merchandise in question but also a 9mm handgun. According to law enforcement, neither the woman nor the teenage girl, are legally allowed to possess a firearm. Officers also found additional suspected stolen items from another merchant, with an estimated value above $4,300.
