The is praising its officers for assisting in an investigation that led to an arrest of a Bremerton woman, allegedly responsible for multiple burglaries and thefts. Bremerton Police arrested the 39-year-old woman on Tuesday, June 26 at a Bremerton motel.
On June 7, Gig Harbor Police were dispatched to the in reference to a theft, according to Gig Harbor Police Lt. Bill Colberg.
The victim told police that she secured her purse in a locker around 3:45 p.m., and when she returned to her locker, the lock had been cut and her purse with credit cards and car keys was gone. Another victim also reported that her wallet was stolen while she was swimming at the Y.
According to the security footage, the female suspect walked in, went past the front desk through the exit-side and headed into the locker rooms. Few minutes later, it showed the same woman in a white Subaru station wagon driving very slowly through the parking lot with the victim’s key fob.
Once she located the car, the suspect dumped the Subaru and droved off in the victim’s 1997 Nissan. It was later discovered that the Subaru was stolen from Bremerton YMCA on May 31, and the license plates had been switched.
Thanks to the “excellent footwork and follow-up work” by Gig Harbor Police, authorities eventually were able to identify and locate the suspect at a Bremerton motel, Colberg said.
Police believe the suspect, who uses meth and has a lengthy criminal history, is responsible for numerous burglaries and thefts in Gig Harbor, Bremerton, Tacoma and Bainbridge Island. Colberg also said she stole about $40,000 in items from a home in Mill Creek.
Authorities searched the motel room on Wednesday and recovered numerous pieces of stolen identification and stolen property.
As officials continue with the investigation, Colberg said they expect to identify more victims and suspects.
“It’s going to lead to more victims, and it’s going to lead to more suspects,” Colberg said. “This is just the beginning.”
