Four similar burglaries took place this month in Camas and Washougal
Two teen suspects have been arrested as a result of an investigation of a series of burglaries this month in Washougal and Camas.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 16, two suspects burglarized E Street Market, located at 1414 E Street in Washougal. The suspects were captured on surveillance video, which showed them smash out a window to gain entry and then steal items from inside the store. The main items stolen were tobacco and e-cigarette related merchandise.
E Street Market was burglarized a second time on Dec. 21. The details were similar to the first incident; where entry was made by breaking a glass window and mainly tobacco-related items were stolen.
On Dec. 26 at approximately 3 a.m., two subjects burglarized 7-Market, located at 3514 NE 3rd Ave. in Camas. They smashed out the front window to gain access and stole similar items to the two previous burglaries in Washougal.
Police believed that all three crimes were likely related. Altogether, several thousands of dollars in merchandise had been stolen and thousands of dollars of property damage had been done to these two businesses. Police had developed leads and identified possible suspects for these crimes but had not yet been able to arrest them.
A fourth burglary occurred on Tuesday (Dec. 28). At 3:41 a.m., Camas officers were called to an alarm at 7-Market. Officers arrived to find the glass broken out on the front window and door to the market. Police verified that the burglars were no longer inside the store. They determined tobacco and e-cigarette items had been stolen again.
Officers from the Camas and Washougal police departments began to investigate. They quickly realized there were just two clear sets of footprints in the freshly fallen snow. The footprints led to-and-from the store.
Washougal Officers followed these footprints: North on Lechner Street out of the parking lot, Eastbound on H Street, Northbound on 9th Street, Eastbound on I street – directly to two subjects walking down the road carrying backpacks. Their backpacks were filled with stolen merchandise from 7-Market. One of the suspects still had broken glass stuck to his coat.
Both suspects were arrested and confessed to committing these crimes.
Police were appreciative of Mother Nature’s help in stopping this crime spree.
The two suspects arrested were a 15-year-old male from Washougal and Cooper K. Akers, an 18-year-old male from Washougal. Both subjects were booked for multiple counts of commercial burglary, felony theft, and felony malicious mischief (vandalism).
Information provided by Camas Police Department.
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