Thieves targeted a house for sale in Federal Way stripping it of all the new appliances, lights, doors, even cutting out the new carpet.
The house in in the 32800 block of 8th Place Southwest was on the market for about two weeks.
The owner, Renee Betzendorfer, had just remodeled the home. She put in new appliances, painted, installed new carpet. She took money out of retirement to cover the $30,000 remodeling costs. She got a call on August 3rd from police after neighbors called 911.
Two men, who neighbors thought were contractors, stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment from inside the house. One neighbor even snapped a photo of the truck the suspects were driving.
“They have no idea of the impact they have on people's lives,” Betzendorfer told KIRO 7.
Betzendorfer works as a nurse, she was also studying to get her master’s degree. Now she is trying to delay her schooling. Her daughter who had plans to attend Bates Technical College in the fall will now have to wait until January.
Betzendorfer is convinced the thieves were professionals.
"They knew what they were doing," she said.
The appliances were carefully removed so they could be easily re-installed somewhere else,” she said. She thinks the thieves were interrupted before they could steal the fireplace insert and the rest of the carpet.
Federal Way Police are investigating. KIRO 7 has been to the neighborhood and is in touch with the victims. Join us at 5 p.m. to watch the full story that we're putting together right now.
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