Police look for elderly victims of prolific thief
Oct 12, 2012, 3:16 PM | Updated: 5:16 pm
From a brazen attack at a gas station to a sneaky residential burglary, cops say the only thing that remains the same is the advanced age of Patrick Hartness' victims. (Photo: Everett Police Department)
(Photo: Everett Police Department)
He targets some of our most vulnerable neighbors, but Everett police worry not all of his victims have reached out for help or even know they’ve been the victims of a crime.
26-year-old Patrick Hartness was arrested August 24 after an attack on a 91-year-old man at a gas station in Everett. Police say the elderly man was paying for his gas at the Arco at 9931 19th Ave SE, when Hartness assaulted him and took his wallet.
With Hartness in custody, police were then able to link him to robberies that occurred at the homes of elderly residents of Everett and Mountlake Terrace. In one case, he allegedly snuck into a couple’s home without their knowledge. In another, the victims say he posed as a maintenance worker and talked his way through their front door.
“There doesn’t seem to be any link between the individuals themselves, the victims. What we believe at this time is that he’s actually targeting elderly citizens,” says Aaron Snell with the Everett Police Department.
Snell says there may be other people who have been victimized by Hartness, but they might not realize anything is missing. Police says he usually takes credit cards and financial documents that he can use to commit identity theft. Although, in one case he allegedly took some World War II memorabilia that held great sentimental value for the owner.
Anyone with information regarding these burglaries, or who might be a victim, is asked to please call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450.
