Police Ask Public For Help With Recent Car Break-Ins

Spokane police received 24 reports of car break-ins over the weekend. They’re asking the public to provide information on suspects.

The reports started Friday and ended Sunday.

They came from East Mission and East Francis, Napa and Pacific, Napa and Sprague, 4200 N. Normandie and 1800 N. Division, 1300 W. Sixth and 400 W. Fourth, according to police spokesman Dick Cottam.

Police said the vehicles were unlocked in some cases.

Reports on Saturday came from Mission and Stone, 1800 N. Regal, 2100 N. Airport and 4300 N. Ash.

On Sunday, reports were called to police from the 700 block of West Third, 3600 E. 13th, Bridgeport and Standard, 1400 E. Sanson, 1300 E. North and 1500 E. Crown, Cottam said.

Later, there were four reports of break-ins at the parking lot at the Garland Theater at 924 W. Garland. The owner of one car found evidence inside the car and turned it over to police.

Anyone with information on suspects in any of these break-ins is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

No laying down on the job

Spokane police are trying to solve the case of the stolen mattress.

A female shopper is suspected of not paying for a mattress she was seen hauling away from the VOA Thrift Store, 1010 N. Atlantic, Saturday morning, said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

When an employee questioned the shopper, she said she paid and started to leave in her station wagon vehicle. The employee tried to open the rear door of the vehicle to retrieve the $12.50 mattress. The woman backed into him, turned sharply, hit him again and drove away, Cottam said.

The employee got the license number and a description of the female and called police. The suspect is described as about 40, heavy set with short, possibly dyed red hair. Officers checked the license and went to the listed residence but were told the female tenant had moved, Cottam said.

The VOA employee was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital and released.

Arrest made after chase

A male driving a stolen car was being chased by police at 1 a.m. on Friday near Augusta and Belt, when the suspect’s car went out of control and smashed into a power pole, snapping it off the ground.

The driver left the vehicle and was later found hiding in a yard at Lindeke and Sharp, Cottam said. A female passenger stayed at the scene.

Brett J. Ketchum, 25, was examined at a local hospital, released and booked into jail on charges of attempting to elude, a felony, and possession of methamphetamine. He gave his address as 914 W. Mansfield.

Twenty-one-year-old April R. Franetich of 224 W. Shannon was booked into jail on a charge of car theft, Cottam said.

Woman foils ski-mask-wearing man

A woman, who left an STA bus near the 5400 block of North Ash about 5 p.m. on Feb. 10, told police a male grabbed her arm as she walked down a nearby alley.

She said the male grabbed her from behind, and she spun around and struck him. She said he ran north in the alley toward Rowan, Cottam said.

The suspect was wearing a black ski mask and black clothing. The victim said he was about 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. The woman suffered a bruised arm.

Armed suspect robs store

A man armed with a handgun robbed a clerk at a North Side Qwik Stop on Feb. 6.

The employee told police the suspect walked into the convenience store at 3219 N. Nevada about 1 a.m. He asked for cigarettes then pulled a gun and demanded money, Cottam said.

He pointed the gun, took some cash and walked south from the parking area.

The clerk described him as white, about 35 to 40, between 5 feet and 5 feet 2 inches tall and 120 pounds. He had light brown hair, blue-gray eyes and bad lower teeth.