Car prowlers shatter windows of more than 60 vehicles in Renton

Dozens of people in Renton were stunned this weekend to find their car windows shattered and belongings gone, after a barrage of break-ins.

Police say car prowlers in the city shattered glass and broke into more than 60 vehicles, from Friday night to Saturday morning.

The destructive thieves targeted vehicles in at least eight locations.

And now those car prowlers are armed.

Investigators say four guns were among the possessions they stole from vehicles.

Chunks of shattered glass litter the inside of this vehicle, one of more than 60 hit by car prowlers in Renton this weekend. (Photo: Renton Police Dept.)

Police say they’re still receiving more reports about the overnight car prowls from several Renton-area neighborhoods.

But they remain hopeful they’ll be able to track down the suspects.

Detectives are gathering evidence and taking statements from witnesses.

They are also trying to collect surveillance video that may be able to provide a good description of the suspects involved.

The Renton Police Department released a series of photos showing some of the damaged vehicles.

In the pictures, shattered glass and broken windows are clearly visible.  Some photos of the vehicle interiors show chunks of windows scattered across the seats and carpet.

This Jeep Wrangler was one of at least 60 vehicles hit by car prowlers in Renton, from Friday night to Saturday morning. (Photo: Renton Police Dept.)

Renton’s deputy police chief released a statement assuring vehicle owners that the police department will do all it can to track down and arrest suspects responsible for the damage and thefts:

“We know this is a heavy burden to those victimized in these senseless acts,” Deputy Chief Ryan Rutledge said in the statement. “We want our community members to know that we will fully investigate in our attempts to identify the suspects involved.”

The police department also released a list of seven of the eight known areas hit by the prowlers.

They are:

• The 700 block of Logan Ave
• The 1700 block of E. Valley Rd
• The 1800 block of E. Valley Rd
• The 1200 block of Lake Washington Blvd N.
• The 1300 block of Lake Washington Blvd N.
• The 1800 block of the Maple Valley Hwy
• The 400 block of S. 50th St.

Police also urging people to take precautions and reminding them not to leave any valuables, and especially not firearms, inside their vehicles.

They are reminding the public, that as a result of guns being stored in several vehicles, the suspects are now armed with at least four guns.

Because gun owners carelessly left firearms unsecured in their vehicles, police say those guns are now in the hand of the suspects.  They say the armed car prowlers should be considered dangerous.

Investigators are also asking for any other victims whose vehicle was broken into, to come forward and report it immediately to the Renton Police Department.