Prolific Thief Arrested In University Place

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA — The alleged burglar who was caught on video stealing an expensive electric bike from a University Place business in June is also reportedly associated with a string of thefts from Fred Meyer that occurred in February and May, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

Christopher Mathew Smith, 29, was arrested Monday and taken to Pierce County jail, where he was arraigned Tuesday for charges of burglary, theft, and retail theft with extenuating circumstances.

According to court documents obtained by Patch, the Fred Meyer thefts began Feb. 7, when Smith and one of his alleged accomplices, Breanne Marie Marsh, were recorded on security cameras as they ostensibly shopped for clothing at the store located at 6305 Bridgeport Way in University Place.

Around 9:30 p.m., Smith and Marsh went into the store and began collecting clothes, court documents state. After gathering a selection of items valued at less than $750, Marsh reportedly walked out without paying for her collected merchandise and got into a Honda Odyssey in the parking lot. Marsh then drove the Honda to rear of the store, court documents state.

Inside, Smith reportedly continued gathering merchandise in a cart, which he then pushed through an employee door into a rear service hallway. After exiting the store through an alarmed backdoor, Smith met Marsh who was waiting in the Honda. Together they loaded the vehicle and drove away — but not before an employee took a picture of the Honda's license plate, which was then handed over to investigators.

When detectives contacted the registered owner, they reportedly learned the car was sold to Marsh but that the registration was apparently never transferred to her name.

A few days later, on Feb. 11, Smith and an unidentified man visited the same Fred Meyer around 6:30 p.m. Court documents state the pair were surveilled while performing nearly the same identical actions as from the previous theft, taking less than $750 in merchandise before exiting through the rear service hallway and out the same alarmed backdoor before loading the stolen property into a vehicle and driving away.

Investigators were evidently unable to locate either Smith or Marsh before May 16, when both were again recorded entering the same Fred Meyer around 10:30 a.m. Again the pair performed the same steps to complete a nearly identical theft as the previous two incidents.

A few weeks later, on June 24, police were dispatched to a burglary at Down Right Cozy Fireplace & Spa and Wattzup E Bikes, located at 7412 27th St. W. in University Place. According to the business operator, a man broke into the store just after 5 a.m. June 23, went straight to the area where bikes were stored, and cut a three-quarter inch cable securing a red and black Atom Lynx 6 27.5 Pro, valued at $4,599.

Incidentally, the same officer investigating the Fred Meyer thefts was dispatched to the June 23 bike theft and quickly recognized Smith as the same suspect, court documents state.

After sharing video of the June 23 theft on social media in a bid for help identifying Smith, Pierce County investigators learned the stolen bike was located at a residence in the 1400-block of South 41st Street in Tacoma. The resident of the home reportedly told officers Smith left the bike there, noting Smith mentioned his intention to sell the bike. While interviewing the resident, police also learned Smith was staying with Marsh at the Hidden Hills Apartments, which is only half-a-mile from Down Right Cozy Fireplace & Spa and about 2.5 miles north of the Fred Meyer.

Marsh was arrested July 5 for violating a no contact order, and on July 8 police learned Smith was at Marsh's apartment.

Smith was already gone by the time officers arrived, but he was later spotted at the intersection of 40th Street West and 67th Street West, where he was ultimately arrested.

Court documents state Smith initially denied any involvement in the Fred Meyer thefts, but that he copped to it after being told he was caught on camera. Smith reportedly said he committed the thefts to support his drug habit.

When asked about the electric bicycle burglary, Smith again reportedly said it wasn't him. When pressed with video evidence and witness testimony, Smith then admitted to the crime, stating, "I have nine points, I can't get caught for that," before asking police if they'd be willing to just let him go.

Two counts of retail theft in Pierce County were filed against Marsh on July 9. Her arraignment is set for July 23.