Spokane police say couple who stole Christmas presents are suspected of stealing again

A couple who have been charged with stealing Christmas presents and putting them under their own tree last year are suspected of stealing again, the Spokane Police Department said in a news release.

Police say Duane Yarnell, 52, and Megan Tureman, 32, drove around the Spokane area last Christmas, stealing packages off porches, and were later caught with the stolen packages wrapped under their Christmas tree.

Yarnell and Tureman were charged with burglary in 2019 for that scheme but have not been convicted.

But they have been convicted of several crimes each, including possession of a controlled substance. Tureman has been convicted of criminal mischief with a weapon.

Now police suspect the couple, whom they have dubbed “the Grinch and his girlfriend,” of stealing mail from mailboxes and property from yards. The suspected thieves have targeted northwest Spokane, allegedly stealing several pieces of yard art including a kneeling soldier on a cross statue from a wounded soldier’s front porch, the release said.

Police say they are selling the stolen items on a variety of websites. The Spokane Police Anti-Crime Team recovered the soldier statue and returned it to its owners, but police say there are several more items with unclaimed owners.

The couple are also suspected of stealing mail , including checks they’ve attempted to cash.

Police say the mail theft has occurred in Spokane and Chewelah, Washington.

Yarnell and Tureman are charged with trafficking in stolen property, among other charges. They are not currently in custody.