Police recovered thousands of dollars worth of clothing and electronics and arrested a 48-year-old man at a Beacon Hill home early Monday as part of a months-long investigation into stolen property trafficking in Seattle’s downtown core.
Since September, the West Precinct’s Anti-Crime Team and Major Crimes Taskforce has been investigating the 48-year-old man after police first noticed walking near 3rd Avenue and Pike Street, buying clothing from people on the street and stuffing into a black duffel bag. Police later found some of the items he was buying still had security tags attached.
With the assistance of local retailers, including Fred Meyer, police were able to sell purportedly stolen items to the man and obtained a warrant to search his home.
On March 2nd, officers served the warrant at the man’s home near Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street and recovered liquor, clothing, and electronics, which police believe were stolen from downtown stores. Investigators recovered approximately $13,800 worth of property—including Jackets, appliances, cologne, and shoes—and more than $3,000 in cash at the home, and found indications the man was shipping the items outside the United States.