Compiled by P. Waters from Woodinville Police reports

It’s not easy to fool a police officer

Dec. 15: A hit-and-run was called in to police about 7 p.m.

The caller claimed he had been hit while exiting the back parking lot of Top Foods by a vehicle that then left the scene.

The claimant did not know the license plate number, whether it had been a car or a truck, or in what direction the vehicle went after the collision. He appeared to the officer to be curiously unconcerned about the incident. He was well aware of the extent and location of the damage to his car, however.

He showed the officer how the wheel was pushed against the wall of the wheel well, with damage to the wheel cover and inside and under the wheel/axle area, as well as extensive paint transfer.

Thinking it unlikely that damage to such low parts of the car could result from a collision with another car, police did an area check and found a yellow-painted loading dock rail nearby that appeared to have new damage.

There was yellow paint transfer to the claimant’s (red) car and red paint transfer to the rail.

When confronted with this evidence, the claimant admitted he had struck the rail and was trying to evade responsibility for it.

The officer advised the driver that it is illegal to falsely report a crime. The driver thanked the officer for not arresting him and had his car towed privately from the scene.

The officer did file a collision report and alerted the property manager of the damage to their property.

Unlocked gate, downed fence = trespass

Dec. 20: A citizen called police, upset about people continually trespassing upon her property.

She said that when she returned home late that evening she found the gate to her property and her garage door open; both were closed when she left that morning. She stated this is the third time the garage has been burglarized.

Nothing was taken, although previously a shop vac was stolen but not reported to police.

She stated that when she left that morning she closed the gate but only pretended to lock it by draping the chain over the gate. She does this to keep from having to open it every time she leaves and returns. The garage was not locked, either.

She also showed the officer a section of fencing that had been knocked down by a vehicle some time ago, through which people enter her property all the time. The officer asked her if she had ever thought of putting the fence back up; she replied they had “tried everything.”

She asked if police could set up video cameras around her property to catch trespassers, in lieu, apparently, of her having to lock the gate and door or fix the fence.

The officer declined but explained she could hire a security company to do so for her. This, she felt, would be too expensive.

Police advised her to lock the gate and the garage door, fix the fence, and put up some lighting. She said she would think about it.

It’s the thought that counts

Dec. 21: A few days before Christmas, police were called to a retail store in the 13900 block of NE 178th Place by the store’s loss prevention officer.

He had watched a customer wander through the store, select bedding and electronics items, put them in his cart, then exit the store while passing all possible points of sale with no attempt to pay for the items.

He was arrested by police. On arrest, he was holding a 2-page document that appeared to be a shopping list, which read in part, “... Take something to get sticker to put on. Make sure line at door go to returns. Self-check.”

The items stolen corresponded to names of family members on the list. He had no cash, no checks, and no credit cards that he might have used to pay for the items he took.

On his arrest, he said he was going to call his sister to come get him because he didn’t want her to know what he was doing.

He was transported to the King County jail and booked for investigation of theft.

Compiled by Riley Mizell from police reports

Dec. 27, Carnation: Driver arrested for suspended license. Passenger arrested for falsifying information to officers, all the while his license with all the right information was tucked neatly up his shirt sleeve.

Dec. 28, Duvall: Male lurking in park bushes contacted by police. No criminal activity, just looking.

Dec. 29, Duvall: Road rage begun in Redmond spilled out onto the streets of Duvall, as both parties engaged in fight. Suspect left the scene and victim didn’t want to press charges.

Dec. 30, Duvall: Less-than-cooperative ex-boyfriend ignored request from woman to hit the road. Less-than-cooperative ex-boyfriend met by police. Woman given suggestions on how to protect herself.

Dec. 30, Duvall: Juvenile love triangle resulted in calls being made by one young man to the other and fear of harassment. Officers told boys to let the girl handle her own affairs and to stop calling each other. Maybe she needs to pluck petals from a flower … loves me, loves me not …

Jan. 1, Carnation: Start of the new year finds this husband arrested for blows to his wife, again. Wife given resources to consider.

Jan 2, Duvall: Landlord of abandoned property will be contacted to discuss the use of property for possible criminal behavior. Neighbors are currently keeping a watch.

Jan. 2, Duvall: With nothing better to do at almost midnight, someone created some sort of explosive device and detonated it at a local park port-a-potty location.

Jan. 2, Duvall: Just like a toddler who hides their eyes so we can’t see them, this driver thought if he turned off his headlights, he would be invisible to police. Wrong. And why was he hiding? Suspended license. And what did he get for his trickery? Arrested.