A Rash Of Car Break-Ins And Counterfeit Cash Hits Puyallup: Log

PUYALLUP, WA - From numerous reports of vehicle burglaries to numerous reports of counterfeit cash making rounds across the city, Puyallup police had their hands full between Jan. 31 and Feb. 5.

Theft/Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

310 31st Ave. SE - Walmart

A man who was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart was also carrying heroin, according to police. All the stolen property and drugs were seized.

DUI Collision/Possession of Marijuana

100-block of Seventh Avenue Southwest

A police sergeant patrolling for distracted drivers witnessed a man on his cell phone rear-end another driver. While speaking to the sergeant after the crash, the man admitted to smoking cannabis before the crash; he also had cannabis in his car. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and possession of marijuana.

MVTR

3800-block of Third Street Southeast

A woman asked an acquaintance to drive her in her car to an appointment. While the woman attended her appointment the acquaintance left with her car and hasn't been seen since. The woman's car, a silver 1996 Honda Civic, has been entered as stolen.

Fraud

3000-block 22nd Street Place Southwest

A man was reportedly scammed by individuals who claimed to be with the IRS. According to police, the scammers convinced the man to buy $750 in pre-paid gift cards and read the card numbers over the phone, lest he face arrest.

"After reading the card numbers over the phone to the 'agents,' he considered that he may have been scammed," police said. "The IRS does not contact anyone via telephone and they certainly do not want gift cards as payment! Please feel free to hang up on the ‘agents.’"

Burglary to storage unit/Motor Vehicle Theft Report

1400-block of North Meridian

A Rigid tile saw and a red 50cc Honda mini-motorcycle were burglarized from a storage unit sometime between Jan. 14 and 30.

Fraud

1617 E. Main - Riverside Park Apartments

A woman who thought she was joining a mystery shopper program was told to deposit a money order and buy $800 in Walmart gift cards that she'd send to another person. However, according to police, the money order was fraudulent and the woman was conned out of the money.

Central Pierce Fire Assist- House Fire

1700-block of 25th Street Place Southwest

Puyallup officers reportedly helped out Central Pierce Fire & Rescue during a house fire in the area. All three occupants at the home made it out, police said, noting the fire is still under investigation.

Central Pierce Fire Assist - Barn Fire

St. Andrews Court

Puyallup police also assisted Central Pierce during a barn fire around a new residential development. No cause has been determined, and investigators found no evidence the barn was occupied.

Neighbor Dispute/ Alleged Assault

1000-block of Ninth Street Northwest

Two neighbors were yelling at each other in the front yard of one of their homes. One of the neighbors accused the other of punching her in the face multiple times. Police found no evidence to support her claim. A report was taken.

Fraudulent Currency - **Follow-up**

304 Second St. NE - McDonald’s

A person suspected of passing fake money was contacted in the 1100-block of River Road, near a tattoo shop. The suspect told police he'd received the fake cash from an offer-up transaction, but didn't know it was fake at the time. A report was taken.

Paraphernalia/Warrants

303 35th Ave. SE - The Home Depot

A shoplifting suspect tried to bail on roughly $750 worth of merchandise he was reportedly planning to steal. As he stepped outside the store, police stopped and questioned him. During their conversation, officers found the man had three warrants out of King County and possessed methamphetamine, heroin, and paraphernalia. He was taken to Puyallup jail.

Runaway

1700-block Sixth Street Southwest

A 14-year-old girl ran away from home but was later found and returned to her mother.

Fraud

929 E. Main - Pickled Pepper

A 17-year-old girl was stopped by police after attempting to pass a fake $20 at the Pickled Pepper. The girl told police she got the $20 as change from another store. The girl's mother responded and paid for the girl's purchase. Police forwarded their report to Remann Hall.

Burglary (Shed)

700-block of Third Street Northwest

A Stihl chainsaw and two Dewalt drills were burglarized from a shed sometime during the past week.

Theft

1100 N. Meridian - Fred Meyer

A theft suspect reportedly fled with an $8,500 wedding ring he was trying on. The suspect is described as a white man between 25 and 30 years old. At the time of the theft, the suspect was wearing all white Adidas gear.

Hit & Run

2000-block of Linden Lane

Police successfully tracked down a hit and run suspect who was seen by witnesses hitting another vehicle and fleeing the area. A summons was issued.

Warrant

620 S. Hill Park Dr. - Best Western

Puyallup police advocated for the arrest of a hotel tenant who'd been causing numerous problems at area businesses. The problem tenant reportedly had a misdemeanor warrant out of Federal Way, so he was taken to Kent jail.

Elude/Reckless Driving/Possession of Stolen Vehicle/Organized Retain Theft

310 31st Ave. SE - Walmart

As reported by Puyallup police:

Officers responded to a shoplift in progress at Walmart ($1,000 +) involving at least seven males. The males left in two different vehicles, and an officer located one of the suspect vehicles turning onto E/B 512.

The vehicle (occupied by five males) fled and a pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle, which was found to be confirmed stolen from King County, eventually came to an abrupt stop in Auburn and all occupants bailed. They were quickly stopped and detained by PPD officers.

Four of the males were found to be juveniles and were booked into Remann Hall. The driver was an adult and he was booked into Pierce County Jail.

DUI Collision

105 Seventh St. SW - Puyallup High School

A woman who was more than double the legal limit for driving under the influence failed to make the turn from West Main to Sixth Street Southwest, ultimately crashing through the cement pylons and coming to rest near Puyallup High School. The woman was taken to hospital after the crash, where she was later cited for drunk driving.

Assault 4th DV, Exposing a Minor

1400-block of South Meridian

A woman who was arguing the merits of a restraining order against the father of her child was given good reason for it when the 31-year-old man threw her into a motel door in front of their 9-year-old kid.

Criminal Trespass, Possession of Burg Tools

303 35th Ave. SE - The Home Depot

A 42-year-old man in possession of burglary tools was caught at The Home Depot where he'd previously been trespassed. He was arrested.

Burglary/MVTR

1400-block of Seventh Avenue Southeast

A woman stepped out of her apartment for a short time but left her front door unlocked. A neighbor's security cameras captured two white men entering her place, where they reportedly stole the keys to the woman's black 2010 Acura TSX, which they subsequently stole from the parking lot.

Fraud

1900-block of 12th Avenue Northwest

The victim’s check was fraudulently cashed by an unknown suspect.

Theft from Vehicle x 2- citizen reports

1112 Ninth St. SE - Country Gables Apartments

The first burglary incident occurred between 9 p.m. Jan. 30 and 6 a.m. Jan. 31 and saw the victim's vehicle window broken. Taken from the glove box were a wedding ring, bench made knife, insurance card, and spare change.

The second incident also involved a broken vehicle window and pilfered glovebox. In the second burglary, a knife and vape cigarette device were reported as stolen.

There are no suspects in these cases.

Theft from vehicle- citizen report

608 39th Ave. SW - Willow Springs Apartments

Another vehicle burglary was reported from the Willow Springs Apartments Jan. 31 around 7:30 a.m. In this incident the victim found his car had been entered, his glovebox pilfered, and his son's violin stolen.

Theft from Vehicle

608 39th Ave. SW - Willow Springs Apartments

Sometime between 10 p.m. Jan. 30 and 7:30 a.m. Jan. 31 someone entered the victim's unlocked BMW and stole sunglasses, a watch, and a crystal.

Theft from Boat

2000-block of East Pioneer Avenue

Sometime between 8 p.m. Jan. 31 and 4:20 p.m. Feb. 1 someone unbolted and removed from the victim's 2004 Bayliner a Mercury outdrive and propeller.

Counterfeit Currency

311 West Pioneer Ave. - Puyallup City Jail

After booking a Milton man on a warrant, the corrections officer found a $100 and $20 bill that appeared fake. After confirming the money was fraudulent the officer interviewed the Milton man, who said he'd found the money on the ground in Federal Way. The man also denied trying to spend the fake currency.

Vehicle Fire

721 Second Ave. NE - River Crest Townhomes

A parked and unoccupied truck burst into flames, requiring a police and fire department response. The cause was likely an electric wiring issue.

Vehicle Prowl

1300-block of Fourth Avenue Southwest

Sometime between Feb. 1 and 2 someone burglarized an exterior, truck-bed tool box. The suspect reportedly stole a fishing pole, tools, and military MREs.

Forgery/Check Fraud

4102 South Meridian - Best Buy

Two people — a man and woman — were reported as suspicious people sitting a parked car on the side of the building. When an officer contacted the pair he found the woman was high on heroin while the man was typing on a laptop in the backseat.

Officer's searched the vehicle with permission and found corporate-type check stock, a printer, and other undisclosed items. Police will likely followup with a warrant.

Trespass

1100 N. Meridian - Fred Meyer

Police arrested a man at Fred Meyer who'd previously been trespassed from all Fred Meyer properties.

Vehicle Prowl

1100 N. Meridian - Fred Meyer

A Fred Meyer employee reported to police the burglary of her vehicle. The woman said one of her windows was smashed and a watch was stolen.

Theft

1200-block of Eighth Avenue Northwest

A gray Honda outboard motor was steel from a yard. No serial numbers were taken, and no suspect information was released.

Burglary

700-block of Second Street Northwest

Sometime between 3 and 6 p.m., someone dropped off a blue Schwinn mountain bike inside the victim's open garage and took the victim's brown mountain bike.

DUI Collision

224 W. Stewart

A 75-year-old woman who'd attended a VFW memorial service reportedly hit a parked car on her drive home. Police then found the woman was just under twice the legal limit for driving impaired. She was arrested.

Malicious Mischief DV

2576 S. Meridian

A woman reported that her cousin and former roommate was the likely culprit responsible for vandalizing her apartment. The woman told police her cousin still has a key to the apartment and was supposed to come by to get her things.

Burglary

400-block of 14th Street Southwest

A burglary victim reported the theft of several gardening tools and a leaf blower from their garage.

Burglary

700-block River Road

A white man in his mid-20s busted out the glass to a business so he could steal a cell phone. Described as "high on drugs" by witnesses, the man reportedly committed the burglary while the business was open, though police believe he may have thought it was after business hours.

The man stole a phone and ran away. He has not been located.

Assault 2nd DV, NCO Violation (Felony)

1402 S. Meridian

A woman picked up the boyfriend with whom a No Contact order had been established, which identified the woman as the protected person. After picking up her boyfriend the pair began arguing, so the woman pulled over to tell him things weren't going to work out.

After the woman told the boyfriend to get out of the car, he reportedly assaulted and strangled her.

The man fled the scene on foot and has not been found.

Theft from Vehicle

103 35th Ave. SE - RAM Restaurant

A man reported his truck was burglarized by someone who broke out the small window on the driver's side and took his backpack, which contained REI rain gear.

Drive-by Shooting

2590 S. Meridian - Meridian West Apartments

Police investigating a possible drive-by shooting found three shell casings but no victims or damaged property. Multiple witnesses reported hearing the gunshots.

Motor Vehicle Recovery

Orting Kapowsin Highway (County)

A woman found her stolen car on the Orting Kapowsin Highway. She told police the keys were in it but it was almost out of gas. She reportedly drove the car home.

Motor Vehicle Recovery

805 Seventh St. SE - Cambridge Apartments

A woman told police someone on Facebook let her know where to find her stolen car, which was reportedly used in multiple crimes around Pierce County. The car was located in the back of Cambridge Apartments, police said.

Theft from Vehicle

3000-block of Alderbrook Court South

A woman reported her gun was stolen from her unlocked car sometime Saturday night.

Burglary (Attempted)

3921 S. Meridian

Someone attempted to gain entry into the Harborstone ATM shed. There is video of the suspect.

Theft from Vehicle

3703 Ninth St. SW - BJ’s Brewhouse

A woman who left her backpack in her car — on the front passenger seat and in plain view — told police someone smashed the passenger side window, stole the backpack, and took a handbag that was under the passenger seat. In the handbag was the woman's wallet, which contained credit cards that were later used to buy merchandise from Best Buy.

Warrant Arrest (DV related)

414 Spring Street

A man was arrested after exiting a van occupied by multiple people that was parked near the railroad tracks. The man reportedly put his hands in the air when he saw police, who later learned he had a domestic violence assault warrant out of Olympia.

DUI (Collision into a building)

204 Valley Ave. NE - Chevron

A man who crashed into a building told police his foot slipped from the brake onto the gas pedal. Investigators learned the man was also more than double the legal limit for driving impaired. So while it's possible his foot did slip, he was also pretty inebriated.

Image via Puyallup Police Department