Footprints In Snow Lead Deputies To Burglar In Sammamish

SAMMAMISH, WA - A prolific burglar who has been "terrorizing" homeowners in the Sammamish area was caught recently, thanks largely in part to recent snowfall.

The burglar has been ransacking garages and sheds since August, according to the King County Sheriff's Office. Recently, police have been posting photos of the suspect on social media hoping someone would spot him. That effort paid off on Feb. 11, when a man saw the burglar walking along Issaquah-Fall City Road near Duthie Hill Park.

By the time police got to the scene, the burglar was gone. But they noticed he left a trail of boot prints leading into the woods. The footprints lead into the Grand Ridge Park, south of Duthie Hill.

A K9 and his deputy handler lead a group of police into the woods. The tracks ended near a camp, and that's where police found the burglar sitting by a campfire. The 48-year-old was arrested without incident.

(The photo above shows the exact route deputies took to find the suspect's camp.)

Deputies had to return to the scene later with a search-and-rescue team to remove truck-loads of stolen property, according to the sheriff's office. Some stolen items were destroyed by the weather, but photos of the unclaimed items can be seen here. If you see something that's yours, call the sheriff's office at (206) 296-3311.

Image courtesy KCSO