Prowling victim tracks, recovers stolen property

A 20-year-old Spokane Valley man recovered his stolen camera Saturday, and the suspect in the theft was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

The victim called officers to Pawn One about 2 p.m. Saturday and told them that his car had been prowled and a Nikon camera and lenses worth $1,500 had been stolen. He said he and friends began looking for the stolen items and found them at Pawn One, 11812 E. Sprague Ave.

The manager at the store helped him confirm the serial number on the camera was the same as on the packaging he had brought with him. The manager told officers he loaned the suspect, 24-year-old William T. Laroque of Edwall, Wash., $175 on the camera.

Unfortunately for the suspect, he left Pawn One without his identification card. Officer Rob King seized the ID card and placed it on police property. About 5:15 p.m., the manager called King and said he had arranged for Laroque to pick up the forgotten ID about 6 p.m.

King walked into the business as Laroque was standing at the counter. He arrested the suspect on a charge of first-degree possession of stolen property and booked him into the Spokane County Jail.

Suspect arrested on theft charges

Officers arrested a 41-year-old Spokane man Sunday after they found a stolen wallet inside his van during a theft investigation, said Spokane Valley police spokesman. Sgt. Dave Reagan.

A 26-year-old customer at Players and Spectators, 12828 E. Sprague Ave., told officers he inadvertently left his wallet sitting on a table about 6:45 p.m. Sunday. When he returned to the table, the wallet was gone, and a possible suspect was walking away. He said he followed the man and watched him leave in a white van.

The victim said he ran to his own car and began looking for the van. About an hour later, he called his credit card companies to cancel his cards. He said he learned that his bank card had been used at a Spokane Valley convenience store to make a $57 purchase and that his credit union card had been used at Fred Meyers to make a $290 purchase.

The victim couldn’t find the suspect, so he returned to Players and Spectators. As he was arriving, he said he again saw the suspect in his white van and tried to block him. However, the suspect was able to drive around the victim and get away, he said.

The victim called 911 as he followed, and Dep. Kevin Mosher stopped the suspect at Trent Avenue and Argonne Road. Inside the van were the victim’s wallet and newly-purchased alcoholic beverages, cologne and an electric razor from Fred Meyer, police said.

Officer Brian Moen arrested Christopher Damian Murphy, 3728 S. Latawah St., and booked him into the Spokane County Jail on felony counts of second-degree theft and second-degree identity theft.