Two suspects are behind bars after Bellevue Police detectives broke up a burglary ring where the pair cased high-end homes, returning multiple times to steal items. Detectives say 33-year-old Ryan Purvis and 34-year-old Nathan Wood were arrested and have been charged with felony counts, including residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Investigators say Purvis and Wood would repeatedly drive through neighborhoods, noting unoccupied homes. They’d return to those homes, steal what they could, including the victim’s cars. In some cases, the suspects would return in the victim’s own vehicle to steal again, leaving the home ransacked.
The son-in-law of one victim, noticed his father-in-law’s car leaving the neighborhood. Knowing his father-in-law was out of town, the man tried to stop the suspects, but they fled by driving through a neighbor’s yard. The resident called police, and detectives were able to track down and arrest both Purvis and Wood. Woods was wearing a victim’s Rolex watch on his right wrist. The investigation showed Purvis had ten prior felony convictions.
A search warrant produced three automobiles, multiple car key fobs, several fur coats, a high-end speaker system, and hundreds of pieces of jewelry. In all, the stolen property amounted to at least $200,000, plus the vehicles. There are multiple victims and cases in Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and unincorporated King County near Redmond. Bellevue detectives are working these cases with their counterparts in these jurisdictions. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be forthcoming.
There are also more pedestrians and cyclists out during the stay-home measures, and that makes increased speed, combined with distracted driving, even more dangerous. Captain Nault urged drivers to pay attention, “The likelihood of a pedestrian being killed is only 5% if a car strikes them at 20 mph but jumps to 40% if that same car is only going ten mph faster. These collisions are preventable, that’s what’s so tragic.”
It’s National Volunteer Week, and the Bellevue Police Department volunteer program was just honored as one of the best! Governor Jay Inslee and Serve Washington recognized BPD’s 26-year-old volunteer program as the top Citizen Corps Program in the state.
Volunteer Program Administrator Marji Trachtman started the program in 1994 and has seen 198 volunteers come and go over the decades. “People can make such a positive difference in their community through volunteerism, and it has such an impact on each person’s life,” Trachtman said about her experience. “In addition to feeling an enhanced sense of purpose, many make lifetime friendships. It’s a privilege to be a part of this process.”
Bellevue Beat Blog 