Suspected burglar breaks into two occupied homes in Northwood area

Two people who live near each other in the Northwood area called Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies Monday to report that they heard someone in their homes. Both homeowners said they heard their front doors being pried open. In the first incident, around 2:30 p.m. Monday, a woman living in the 8400 block of East Sunflower Lane called 911 and said she heard someone breaking into her house. She told dispatchers she had a handgun and had locked herself in the bathroom. The woman said she was able to see the suspected burglar, whom she described a tall, skinny white man, between 6-foot and 6-foot-2-inches tall, wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans. Deputies tracked the a short distance, then it appeared he left in a vehicle. The second incident happened around 7 p.m. the same day, about two blocks away in the 6300 block of North Jensen Road. The homeowner, who was in an upstairs bedroom, said she heard her door being broken open then heard someone inside her house. She called 911; when deputies arrived, she said her floors creak and she thought the sound might have scared off the suspected burglar. Nothing was taken in either incident. Anyone with information leading to an arrest in these two incidents should call Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS or forward the tip through www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. A cash reward is being offered and tipsters don’t have to give their name to collect the reward.