By Brian Gawley
Peninsula Daily News
Clallam County Sheriff Office deputies are treating a wave of recent car prowls between Sequim and Port Angeles as connected to three burglaries reported early Wednesday morning.
“The car prowls coincided with the three burglaries. That’s roughly the same time frame. We’re confident they probably were associated as well,” said Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re developing good leads with our public outreach and video obtained from the businesses. We have a lot to work with,” he said.
King said the stolen items included firearms. Some didn’t appear to have anything stolen.
He didn’t know the exact number of car prowls reported.
In every case, the vehicle was unlocked, he said.
Most car prowls in this area are of unlocked vehicles, King said.
People try car door handles until they find one that’s unlocked and then see if there’s anything of value inside, he said.
“Unfortunately, people leave firearms and other valuables in their car. We all need to take preventative measures to ensure we stay safe,” King said.
Deputies continue seeking an unidentified man and a woman in connection with the three burglaries that occurred early Wednesday morning.
Deputies responded to a burglary alarm at Hartnagel’s Building Supply, 3111 E. U.S. Highway 101 just after midnight on Wednesday.
They found a door had been shattered and items had been stolen.
Five minutes later, an employee at Port Angeles Power Equipment at 2624 E. Highway 101 reported the chain link fence had been breached although there was no evidence anything was stolen.
Then at 2 a.m., a third burglary with items stolen was reported at Leitz Farms at 259110 U.S. Highway 101 in Sequim.
Anyone with information regarding these three burglaries is urged to call the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2262 or leave an anonymous tip on the sheriff’s website at https://www.clallam.net/Sheriff/.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at brian.gawley@sound publishing.com.
