The Bellevue Police Department has a team of undercover officers who are focused on crime trends and prolific criminals. The special enforcement team is solving crimes by the hundreds and that's leading to a reduction in crime throughout the Eastside.
"We realize the suspects, they don't care or recognize city limits, they go anywhere and so we will go to find them where ever they go," said Detective Jeffry Christiansen with the special enforcement team.
When a burglar started hitting homes throughout the Eastside by using a tool to disable deadbolts, the special enforcement team went to work.
They linked the crimes by how he was getting in, when the burglar was striking, and what was stolen. The suspect hit mostly apartments with outside doors accessible and while people were at work.
When they identified him, detectives started following him, even watched him commit two burglaries. When Hun Park was arrested he was linked to nearly 100 burglaries throughout the Eastside -- Mill Creek, Bothell, Kirkland, Redmond, Bellevue and Issaquah.
"Where a typical burglary detective, and we have those too, will have a whole 30 unrelated cases on their desk to work. So they work through those cases when they can. We identify a suspect and specifically focus on them until the case is resolved," said Capt. Marcia Harnden who is in charge of the special enforcement team.
Detectives approached the city's spike in car prowls the same way.
They called it Operation Radcliffe to honor victim Moises Radcliffe who was run over and killed by one of the car prowl suspect's in Beaver Lake Park in Sammamish.
Investigators say the organized crime ring targeted cars at parks throughout the Eastside and stole credit cards to buy prepaid debit cards.
They've arrested 17 people so far, impounded 17 cars and recovered and several guns.
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We looked into Bellevue car prowl statistics. In Bellevue in April there were 186 car prowls, last month there were 83.
The last time there were less than 100 car prowls in a month was January 2014 when there were 98 car prowls.
"By seeing the car prowl numbers really dip that shows us that we're making an impact," said Harnden.
The special enforcement team works closely with detectives from other departments.
That's how they caught the suspects they dubbed the "rock smash bandits."
"They had a very unique M.O. of smashing out a window, they'd be in and out in less than a minute," said Christiansen.
They worked on the investigation for 25 days straight. Investigators say the suspects are responsible for 170 burglaries, stole $3 million in property, and were armed while they did it.
When one suspect was arrested he was wearing a watch -- stolen from Mariner pitcher Felix Hernandez.
"It feels good to know you're stopping future crime and potential violence," said Christiansen.
Harnden has a warning, "If you victimize the citizens here or pick on the cities around us and we find out who you are, we're going to come after you."
Cox Media Group
