Burglar rifled 67-year-old’s bedroom while she slept

A 67-year-old woman awoke to find a man in her North Spokane home early Monday and discovered that he had apparently been in her bedroom rifling her end table while she slept. The woman told Spokane County sheriff’s deputies that the man fled through the back door when he saw her, according to a news release. She described the man as 5-foot-10, with medium build, wearing a gray sweatshirt, black athletic pants with white stripes and carrying a backpack, the release said. Deputies had responded to the 300 block of West Heidi Lane just after midnight Monday after two residents reported someone either inside or attempting to break into their homes. The man apparently got into the victim’s house through the back door, which was secured only by the screen door due to the heat. The victim said it appeared the man also had rummaged through her closet and through a suitcase and a freezer in the home’s basement. Her purse was found on the back patio, with some items missing. Deputy Robert Satake had already arrived in the neighborhood to investigate an attempted burglary about one block from the woman’s home. Several more deputies, along with a Spokane police K9 officer, set up a perimeter but couldn’t find the suspect. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Persons with information should call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS, or should forward the tip via the Internet website at www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the cash reward.