SEQUIM — An anonymous early Tuesday morning tipster led Sequim police to the arrest of two Sequim men reported to be burglarizing several unlocked vehicles in the 200 block of West Cedar Street.
Shortly after 5 a.m., police arrested Vincent Alexander Sepulveda, 22, and Matthew Angelo Spry, 20, for investigation of second-degree vehicle prowling.
“We had an alert citizen literally catch two people in the act,” Sequim Police Lt. Sheri Crain said.
“We really appreciate the witness who was Johnny-on-the-spot.
“The citizen saw these individuals go into eight cars in one block.”
Both remained in custody Tuesday in the Clallam County jail in Port Angeles.
Bail was set at $6,100 for Sepulveda and $1,500 for Spry.
Both charges are gross misdemeanors. A gross misdemeanor is a criminal offense punishable by jail for up to one year, a fine up to $5,000 or both.
Crain said the witness told police the men entered the vehicles in the block just west of the Sequim Transit Center and City Hall.
She said all the cars that were burglarized were unlocked.
Missing items
Although they uncovered a pile of items allegedly taken from vehicles and stashed in a bush near the crime scene, Sequim police were still trying to assess what property might be missing and were asking those who might notice items missing from their vehicles to report it to police at 360-683-7227.
“It took the officers quite awhile to find the victims,” Crain said.
“But we’re clearly looking for people who feel they may have had some property taken from their car.”
Sequim has not seen an uptick in car prowls for a year.
“We really haven’t had an overwhelming number of anything that really speaks to a pattern,” Crain said.
In late July and early August last year, some 26 overnight car burglaries were reported to the Sequim police, all by victims whose cars were unlocked.
The rash of car prowls forced the department to step up patrols on foot, by bicycle and by patrol car.
Car prowls are typically crimes of opportunity, police said, so it is wise for motorists to lock their cars to avoid tempting a burglar.
Last summer’s vehicle prowls occurred primarily on Fir, Alder, Prairie, Hammond and Maple streets, as well as South Fourth Avenue and Helen Court and Spruce streets.
Police advise residents to roll up all windows and lock all doors, trunks, hatches, bed-mounted tool boxes and canopies.
Police said motorists should make sure all money, credit cards, checkbooks, debit cards, mail, wallets, purses, garage door openers, keys, vehicle titles, jewelry, electronic devices and music players are removed from their cars overnight.
Even day planners should be removed, police said, since they might reveal when people will not be at home.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
