Year-long sting operation nets police guns, cars and explosives
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SEATTLE -- If you've been victimized by thieves in Seattle, there's a good chance the police have your stuff.
A nearly year-long sting operation netted the Seattle Police Department 900 stolen items, including guns, boats and even explosives.
For 11 months, a task force led by SPD with help from the FBI ran a fake pawn shop in Georgetown where undercover officers bought stolen property for pennies on the dollar with no questions asked.
And it wasn't just jewelry and electronics being sold. Officers took 27 stolen firearms off the street and even bought stolen military grade C4 explosives.
"Those C4 explosives could have ended up on our city streets," said Mayor Mike McGinn.
Business was slow at first, but once word got out about the little red store, the thieves came flooding in.
In addition to the property they took in, police also identified more than 100 suspects, and SPD Chief John Diaz says each person has a history of crime in the city.
"You focus on areas that are having issues and you focus on serial offenders," Diaz said.
Last year, property crimes were down nationwide. Seattle bucked that trend and saw a larger than 3 percent jump in burglary and theft rates.
Determined to change that, SPD relied on an old tactic -- a fake storefront -- which they hadn't tried since 1979.
The tactic worked. Through the shop, police were able to develop 146 auto theft cases and recover 76 bikes and dozens of electronics, credit cards and guns.
Police have already arrested 48 alleged thieves, and another 54 arrests are expected.
"This is a large operation," McGinn said. "The arrests are ongoing and it is notable that the police department saw the issue and put together an operation to directly address it."
Police have set up a Flickr account with photos of some of the recovered property. Property crime victims with a police case number can claim any items. You can also call (206) 733-9616.
A nearly year-long sting operation netted the Seattle Police Department 900 stolen items, including guns, boats and even explosives.
For 11 months, a task force led by SPD with help from the FBI ran a fake pawn shop in Georgetown where undercover officers bought stolen property for pennies on the dollar with no questions asked.
And it wasn't just jewelry and electronics being sold. Officers took 27 stolen firearms off the street and even bought stolen military grade C4 explosives.
"Those C4 explosives could have ended up on our city streets," said Mayor Mike McGinn.
Business was slow at first, but once word got out about the little red store, the thieves came flooding in.
In addition to the property they took in, police also identified more than 100 suspects, and SPD Chief John Diaz says each person has a history of crime in the city.
"You focus on areas that are having issues and you focus on serial offenders," Diaz said.
Last year, property crimes were down nationwide. Seattle bucked that trend and saw a larger than 3 percent jump in burglary and theft rates.
Determined to change that, SPD relied on an old tactic -- a fake storefront -- which they hadn't tried since 1979.
The tactic worked. Through the shop, police were able to develop 146 auto theft cases and recover 76 bikes and dozens of electronics, credit cards and guns.
Police have already arrested 48 alleged thieves, and another 54 arrests are expected.
"This is a large operation," McGinn said. "The arrests are ongoing and it is notable that the police department saw the issue and put together an operation to directly address it."
Police have set up a Flickr account with photos of some of the recovered property. Property crime victims with a police case number can claim any items. You can also call (206) 733-9616.
