Suspected prowler caught on camera looking into sleeping Newcastle family’s window

NEWCASTLE, Wash. — Newcastle police said they’re working to identify a suspected prowler who was caught on camera looking into a sleeping family’s home while holding a flashlight Wednesday night in a housing development along Newcastle Commons Drive near Coal Creek Parkway Southeast.

Investigators say a Ring camera alert woke the sleeping family and showed a man had been outside their window around 11 p.m. Police tweeted a picture of the suspected prowler who they said immediately took off, possibly in a silver Ford Explorer.

Investigators say a Ring camera alert woke the sleeping family and showed a man had been outside their window around 11 p.m. Police tweeted a picture of the suspected prowler who they said immediately took off, possibly in a silver Ford Explorer.

Investigators suspect the man may have been targeting empty homes under construction on Newcastle Commons Drive near Coal Creek Parkway.

“When our officer showed up, she walked around the whole house and it was, you know, fresh snow, so she could see that their footprints went up to the back window of this house,” the police chief said.

Police believe the man quickly drove off in an SUV that’s possibly a newer gray Ford Explorer.

KIRO 7 found a neighbor who said someone driving a gray explorer has been stealing from homes, including his, while he and his wife were home last week.

“Same thing, gray Ford Explorer,” a neighbor said. “Someone had noticed that someone had come into our house, into our garage and stole a couple boxes. It’s like a violation of your own security and you know, you have kids here.”

Police said no one else called them last night about the man and they hope someone can put a name to his face.

A neighbor said, “That’s even scarier because you don’t know why are they looking there? What are they trying to see?”

And those are the questions Newcastle police want answered.

At this point, police have not confirmed if there’s a connection between the recent thefts described by a neighbor and what happened Wednesday night.

Anyone who has a tip is asked to call police.

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