Olympia police bust burglary ring

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Olympia police say they have arrested three people they believe were trafficking in stolen property taken in business burglaries stretching from King County down the I-5 corridor to Cowlitz County.

"Our glass door was completely busted," said Janet McIntosh, the manager of Underwater Sports in Olympia. Thieves broke in four months ago and stole $8,000 worth of diving equipment.

J&I Power Equipment in Olympia was another one of the stores targeted by thieves, who broke in and went after expensive items like chain saws and generators. Christ Stricklett of J&I said, "It would be nice to recoup at least some of our costs from the items that were taken or stolen."

Olympia and Tacoma police arrested the three suspects in Tacoma on Thursday. They are 44-year-old Sonny Campbell, 54-year-old John Fotheringham and 46-year-old Suzanne Stevenson.

Olympia police say they recovered hundreds of stolen items, including paint sprayers stolen three years ago from the Sherwin-Williams in Olympia, as well as a lot of other property. Laura Wohl from the Olympia Police Department said the list of recovered stolen goods is long.

"SCUBA gear, guns, coins, power equipment, generators, high-end bicycles," said Wohl.

"I'm really happy nobody else is going to get violated like we were and really happy to see criminals get what's coming to them," said McIntosh.

The three suspects are being held in the Pierce County jail. They could make their first court appearance on Monday.

KIRO