Bellevue Crime Spree Enabled By Carshare, Doorbell Cams: Police

BELLEVUE, WA — A Bellevue serial thief used some of the latest tech tools to steal dozens of packages across the city, according to police.

Bellevue police say Austin Crane, 32, rented LimePod carshare vehicles to drive around the city and steal packages off porches. Crane also used the app associated with the doorbell camera service Ring to revel in the crimes.

"[D]etectives discovered the suspect tracked his crime spree on such an app, noting how infamous his actions were. Investigators say neighbors post videos of the thefts, often before even contacting the police and Crane was able to see all the posts," Bellevue police said in a statement.

Police arrested Crane this week at his home along Northeast 17th Street near 100th Avenue Northeast on charges of identity theft. There were two LimePod cars parked out front, police said.

At Crane's home and a storage locker in Renton, police recovered stolen passports, mail, packages, and credit cards. Crane's girlfriend was also arrested on an identity theft charge, police said.