Crowbar Suspect Sought In Rash Of Business Break-Ins

Police are looking for a burglar they believe is responsible for more than 15 business break-ins last week in the Valley.

The thief’s tool of choice is a crowbar.

The burglar or possibly a group of burglars hit three office buildings in the central Dishman area between Monday and Wednesday of last week, climbing in windows or prying open outside doors, then using a crowbar to break open inside office doors.

The burglar broke into buildings at 408 N. Mullan, 524 N. Mullan and 122 N. University.

Businesses hit include Printing Resources, Contractors Specialties, the law firm of Montgomery, Carroll and Gates, Dave Gregory Insurance, Systems Technical Sales Co, the law office of Arthur H. Toreson Jr., Washington Paralegal Services Inc., Chiropractic and Therapy Associates, Tad Resources International, Chase Financial Corp., the law office of Peter Daehlin, and Northwest Counseling Group.

Sheriff’s deputies didn’t have a complete list of the affected businesses.

The businesses lost cash and small-sized office equipment primarily, deputies said. The burglar, who appeared to go through the offices quickly, also took some computers, an answering machine, a camcorder and a laser jet printer.

One business lost only a hammer. Detectives believe it was used it to break into other offices. Some offices were ransacked, while others had little damage or loss. In one case, the burglar plugged a sink and left the water running so it would flood, detectives said.

Most of the businesses suffered damage to their doors due to prying.

No suspects have been named, but an investigation continues, said Sheriff’s Det. Chuck Ellis, who works out of the West Valley SCOPE station. , DataTimes