Seattle Resident Robbed of Cell Phone, and Shoplifting Suspect Caught Because of LA Dodgers Cap

Police in Seattle received calls regarding three men chasing another man in the area of 32nd Avenue NE and NE 143rd Street, around 6:40 in the evening. From eyewitness accounts, one of the men was armed with a handgun, and apparently, the group was seen jumping fences and running through yards in a local neighborhood. A 25-year-old man was found in 13700 block of 32nd Avenue NE, with a gunshot wound to the buttocks.

The victim of the gunshot wound told officers the three men had robbed him of his cellphone. The cellphone in question was later recovered at a nearby location. The victim of the gunshot wound was treated at the scene, then transported to a local hospital. The police searched the area but were unable to find the three suspects. Detectives suspect that the victim may not have been robbed, but instead dropped his phone while he was running from the three suspects because the victim failed to provide much information regarding the suspects.

Shoplifting Suspect Caught Because of LA Dodgers Baseball Cap

A shoplifting suspect was located because of a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap after items were taken from an E Pike men’s boutique, Sharply. From details taken from the arrest report, it appears two adult men went into the store with the intent of shoplifting items. The men claimed they were shopping for a “nephew’s birthday,” however an employee of the store recognized one of the men from a prior shoplifting incident. The two men proceeded to leave the store at different times, at which time the employee noted that the bag one of the men was carrying appeared fuller than when he came in. Checking a rack where the employee had witnessed one of the men standing, the employee determined that several shirts were missing.

The employee then proceeded to chase the men down Summit Ave. When he caught up with them, he asked that the shirts be returned. The conversation apparently grew heated, and one of the suspects pulled a knife on the employee, who then backed away. Law enforcement was called to the location, and eventually located one of the suspects because of his LA Dodgers hat. That suspect had multiple warrants, including assault, destruction of property, and harassment. The second suspect has yet to be located. The shoplifted shirts, valued at $220, are not yet recovered.

Shoplifting vs. Theft in Washington State

There is no distinction between shoplifting and theft in the state of Washington. Therefore, if you take something from a store, you will be charged with theft, although the specific charges and resulting penalties will depend on the value of the merchandise in question. The majority of shoplifting cases fall under theft in the Third Degree: when the value of the property does not exceed $750 or the property includes ten or more beverage crates, ten or more merchandise pallets, or a combination of the two.

The penalties for theft in the Third Degree—a gross misdemeanor—are up to one year in jail time, paying a fine up to $5,000, or both. Theft in the Second Degree is taking property valued between $750 and $5,000 and a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. If the value of the property exceeds $5,000, then the offense is theft in the First Degree, a Class B felony, and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine as large as $20,000.

While you may not consider shoplifting a “major” crime, you should never take charges of theft in the state lightly. Theft charges concern character, so you could later lose out on employment or even housing opportunities. Protect your rights and your future by speaking to an experienced Washington criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable regarding Washington theft laws.

Getting Help From Seattle Criminal Defense Attorneys at Lewis & Laws, PLLC

If you are charged with Shoplifting or any type of property crime in Seattle, contact an experienced Seattle criminal defense lawyer immediately. These charges may seriously affect your entire future. Without an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side, you may find yourself spending time behind bars, as well as paying hefty fines.

The experienced lawyers at Lewis & Laws, PLLC have successfully defended clients in Seattle, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our online contact form.