News

Burglars steal smart phones from multiple stores

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Burglars caught on surveillance camera seem to be responsible for multiple break-ins and thefts at different cellphone stores around Puget Sound.

Early Tuesday morning, they broke into a Port Orchard cellphone store, stealing $12,000 worth of phones from an inventory room, according to the store owner.

On Friday, the same two people are suspected of breaking into the same place to steal phones on display in the main room.

The owner, Larry Culp, also has a Sprint third-party retail store in Auburn.

Culp said that the Auburn store was also burglarized on Jan. 14. He said one burglar was even wearing the same yellow sweatshirt he wore in the Port Orchard burglary.

The burglars took display phones from the Auburn store on the 14th, and came back two more times to try to break in again. However, Culp had the glass replaced with laminated glass, making it harder for burglars to shatter.

Culp said he will offer $1,000 to anyone with tips leading to the burglars’ arrest.

Auburn police said they are aware of multiple burglaries in other cities. They are working with the store owners to catch the suspects.

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