Housesitter unwittingly lets in burglars

When you’re house-sitting, it’s probably best not to let someone you only know by a street name roam through the house you are supposed to be watching.

A woman in Liberty Lake learned this lesson the hard way last week when computers, flat-screen televisions and firearms turned up missing from the residence where she was house-sitting in the 19500 block of East Knox Avenue. She had let people she didn’t know well into the home, said Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus. “They were removing items from the house,” he said. “She only knew street names for them.”

Several suspects were identified, including at least one who is a known gang associate, Asmus said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives was called in because of the gang involvement and the theft of firearms. The investigation is ongoing.

A vehicle prowling was reported at roughly the same time in the 2000 block of North Cavalier Road and police believe it is related to the burglary. “It’s just half a block away,” he said. “They just helped themselves.”

A 40-year-old Liberty Lake man was arrested April 5 in the 24200 block of East Desmet Avenue for domestic violence assault and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence. The man reportedly prevented his wife from calling 911 on her cell phone after he assaulted her, Asmus said.

A resident in the 19500 block of East Mission Avenue called police on Sunday morning to report a strange vehicle parked in his driveway. An officer arrived and learned that the registered owner of the car was wanted on a warrant for driving with a suspended license. A woman approached the car while the officer was there and identified herself as the owner of the car, Asmus said. She said she had run out of gas and left her car in the driveway.

As she was being arrested on the warrant the officer found cocaine in an eye shadow container and a glass smoking device, Asmus said. She faces new charges of driving with a suspended license, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A garage burglary was reported at 7:30 p.m. on April 6 in the 1900 block of Aladdin Road. The homeowner reported that several power tools were missing. The garage may have been left open, Asmus said.

During the week officers gave out citations for failure to show proof of liability insurance, defective muffler, illegal use of studded tires and speeding.