Thieves Impersonate Buyers at Open House — Mercer Island Police Blotter

A resident's cell phone was stolen during a Dec. 3 open house by three people posing as potential home buyers.

A 27-year-old Reno, Nevada man and two other "friends" reportedly went so far as to bring a real estate agent with them to maintain the ruse that they were interested in buying the home on the 6400 block of East Mercer Way.

The following day, the victim received a confirmation email about the purchases made by his cell phone, a Google HTC Nexus One. The suspect allegedly downloaded a movie, "Mac & Devlin Go to High School" and song, "2 Chainz Birthday Song" by Kanye West, and a game, "F-18 Carrier Landing".

The man contacted the selling agent, who told him his cell phone had been stolen from his bedroom. The selling agent conducted a web search and located the thief's address and contact information. The theft was reported on Dec. 10.

Theives struck another home holding an Open House sometime between Nov. 25 and Nov. 29 on the 2400 block of 60th Ave. SE and took over $25,000 in gold and diamond jewelry.

Dec. 14

Father, Two Little Girls Unharmed in Island Crest Way Accident
The a 48-year-old resident driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee was trying to trying to turn south onto Island Crest Way from SE 39th Street when he struck the side of a Subaru Legacy traveling northbound in the inside lane at 3:22 p.m. All motorists, including two 5-year old girls in the back seat of the Jeep, were wearing seatbelts and were unharmed in the accident, and the man was cited for failure to yield to traffic.

Dec. 15

Elderly Homeowner Suspects Gardner, Cleaning People in Jewelry Theft
An elderly resident of a home on the 2400 block of 66th Ave. SE reported the theft of cash and gold jewelry sometime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 13. She last saw the items over a month ago. Police found no signs of forced entry and the woman, 86, said that several different people could have had access to the cash and jewelry, including cleaning people and the gardner.

(Ed. Note: The Mercer Island Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all crime on Mercer Island, but is instead a representation of police activity from the persepctive of the MIPD.)