AUBURN, Wash. — Nearly 100 people have been without a place to live after a massive apartment fire in Auburn. Now they’re facing another blow — the apartments are getting looted and burglarized while people are unable to live in their homes.
Auburn police say 15 apartments in total have been looted over two days.
Residents tell KIRO 7 a lot of the stolen objects were sentimental items.
The good news — police did arrest one suspect Thursday morning, and Auburn police say they actually found the suspect inside someone’s apartment. It’s not clear yet if there are other suspects, or when residents might get some of their items back.
“They shattered my window and got in,” said one resident who didn’t want to be identified because of safety concerns. “My house is just trashed, just trashed. This is so wrong,” she said. She said one stolen item was a photo of her mother.
“Why? What would somebody get out of that? Nothing! They stole my neighbor’s dad’s ashes. That’s just sick,” she said, emotional.
On Wednesday, residents found out someone had broken in and burglarized five apartments. At least one car was stolen too.
Residents say the property management did bring in security, but Thursday morning they found out the burglars struck again.
“I feel like we just went through the worst thing in our entire life and they’re just kicking us while we’re down,” said Roxanne Redifer, who lives at the apartments.
Their neighbor, the one who had the photo of her mother stolen, said it appeared a suspect was using drugs in her apartment.
“There are crack pipes on my couch. I have little babies. I have a 7, 10, and 17 year old in my house,” she said. She said she found out after getting a call from Auburn police, who said officers found the suspect still in her home.
“They caught him in my apartment with a backpack full of stuff. Credit cards, ammunition, keys that belong to my neighbor,” she said.
Auburn police confirmed they have arrested a suspect and are working to figure out if there are others involved.
Now residents like Redifer and her mom are moving out their valuables.
“As fast as we can,” Redifer said.
“Anybody who can do something like this to a family that’s already suffered a tragedy. I just don’t understand it,” said Cheryl Redifer.
Still, they are counting their blessings.
“Nobody was hurt, no lives were lost. That’s what I’m grateful for,” Cheryl Redifer said.
The Auburn Food Bank has helped start a GoFundMe campaign for the residents impacted by fire and burglary.
“This is Auburn, this is our family. I may not know you, you may not know me. But you live in Auburn and you’re our family and were going to take care of that,” said Debbie Christian, executive director of the Auburn Food Bank.
Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus has also been very involved in getting the residents help, meeting with them every day since the fire. The city is paying for residents who need it, to stay at a nearby hotel until Saturday.
KIRO 7 reached out to the property management on Thursday afternoon but did not hear back for this story.
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