MYNORTHWEST NEWS

WATCH: Costco thieves run right out the door and into Seattle police

Mar 16, 2018, 5:15 PM | Updated: 5:37 pm

The plan was simple. All they had to do was steal armloads of computers and a couple vacuum cleaners from a Seattle Costco then run out the fire exit. And it would have worked too, if not for the swarm of police waiting right outside the door.

RELATED: Seattle seeks public input for new police chief hire

A Costco store in SoDo called 911 to report suspected shoplifters Wednesday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. Loss prevention officers told police they recognized the suspects from a previous shoplifting incident. The suspects ran out the fire exit last time.

When officers arrived on scene, they noticed a black Toyota backed up to those same fire doors. An 18-year-old woman was at the wheel. They blocked the car from leaving. Police figured the shoplifters were repeating their previous theft, so they waited outside the emergency exit.

“Let’s just wait for them to come out,” a police officer can be heard saying on a dash cam video of the incident. “He’s just going to run out with a laptop.”

At 6:04 p.m., a 30-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman kicked the doors open. They exited the building with stolen property in their hands only to find police mere feet away.

Police booked the 18-year-old woman and the 21-year-old woman for investigation of theft. They booked the 30-year-old man for investigation of robbery. Officers found a 7-inch knife on the male suspect.

After further investigation, it was discovered that the suspects allegedly stole from another Costco earlier that same day. The stolen property is valued at $2,200.

 

 

MyNorthwest News

King County Regional Homelessness Authority Dr. Kelly Kinnison (2)...

Julia Dallas

King County homelessness authority CEO resigns amid financial failures

Dr. Kelly Kinnison, CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), has resigned.

33 minutes ago

Sky Metalwala...

James Lynch

15 years later, investigators still seek answers in toddler Sky Metalwala’s disappearance

It has been 15 years since Sky Metalwala’s disappearance.

1 hour ago

Aurora bridge crash...

MyNorthwest Staff

Aurora Bridge reopens in both directions after Friday morning crash

Both directions of the Aurora Bridge have reopened following a crash Friday morning.

3 hours ago

lakewood strip mall shooting...

Jason Sutich

Drive-by shooting outside Lakewood strip mall leaves man with 3 gunshot wounds

A man was critically injured in a drive-by shooting at a Lakewood strip mall early Friday morning in what police believe was a random incident.

3 hours ago

pierce county bird flu...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Bird flu detected at commercial poultry facility in Pierce County

The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced that bird flu was detected in a “commercial poultry facility in Pierce County.”

4 hours ago

Trump midterm loss white house...

Luke Duecy

The Spin: The White House’s ‘Still Your President’ message raises PR questions after midterm losses

The White House doubled down on reminders that Donald Trump is still president. But the messaging may be drawing attention to what the administration has lost.

4 hours ago

WATCH: Costco thieves run right out the door and into Seattle police