Burglars target open garages in Liberty Lake
Garage burglaries seem to be on the increase again in Liberty Lake based on reports from Liberty Lake police officers. The warmer weather may be prompting more people to leave their garages open.
A resident in the 23000 block of East Remington Lane reported on July 2 that someone had used an open garage door to enter a home and steal a checkbook. Someone called police at 3:40 a.m. on July 4 to report seeing two men in an open garage at an apartment complex in the 21200 block of East Country Vista Drive. The two reportedly left the area in a green Honda or Acura when they were spotted, said Police Chief Brian Asmus. The garage owner discovered that a motorcycle had been moved, Asmus said.
An open garage door wasn’t the problem when a home was burglarized sometime during the evening of July 7 in the 23000 block of East Settler Drive. The homeowner reported that the front door was pried open and a television and some jewelry was missing, Asmus said. A neighbor told police he had seen two teenagers outside the house acting suspiciously. The burglary is under investigation.
A fight was reported in the 1400 block of North Cavalier Court at 5:30 p.m. on July 4. A 44-year-old resident was arrested for domestic violence assault.
There were five arrests for driving with a suspended license and officers also responded several times to assist the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office or Washington State Patrol. One of those assistance calls was initiated by a Liberty Lake officer who was driving home on Highway 27 on July 5. The officer was nearly rammed head-on by another vehicle, Asmus said. The officer stopped the car and determined the driver was under the influence, he said. The Washington State Patrol was called to handle the arrest.
During the week officers handed out two citations for expired registration, two for failure to show proof of liability insurance and 15 for speeding. Additional citations were given for parking in a handicap zone and vehicle use permit required.