The Vancouver Police Department Neighborhood Response West Team was made aware of several auto prowls and burglaries that had been occurring in the area of 4500 Washington Street, primarily in the Lincoln and surrounding neighborhoods in west Vancouver.
Based on information from the investigation, Detectives learned that there had been approximately three reported burglaries connected to this investigation and were able to identify suspects related to these crimes. Further investigation revealed that this case may actually have involved 10-15 burglaries and up to 50 vehicle prowls, many which were unreported.
Detectives arrested two individuals, Wesley E. Neill, 20, of Vancouver and a 16 year old male, also of Vancouver, for multiple counts of Residential Burglary and Burglary. Neill was booked in the Clark County Jail and the 16 year old was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.
Detectives are attempting to reunite property that was recovered with the rightful owners. However, because many of the burglaries and vehicle prowls were never reported, reunification of some of the property with the rightful owners is extremely difficult.
Victims who reported a burglary or auto prowl, and know their serial numbers, or have identifying marks on their property, should contact Detective Zachary Ripp at zachary.ripp@cityofvancouver.us or (360) 487-7400 ext. 3112. This particular case involved crimes that occurred only within a specific geographic area and property recovered relates to incidents primarily in the Lincoln neighborhood.
If you believe you are a victim of auto prowl and have not made a police report, call (360) 487-7355 during regular business hours, to make a telephone report; you may also file an online report 24/7 by visiting the Vancouver Police Department Online Reporting page: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/police/page/crime-reporting. If you are the victim of a burglary, you cannot report that crime using our telephone reporting or online reporting system, burglary reports will require a call to 311.
In almost all of the burglary incidents, entry was made through unlocked doors as well as man doors to garages. Auto prowls involved victims who left valuables inside their vehicles. The Vancouver Police Department reminds citizens to lock all residential doors and windows and to never store valuables in vehicles. For more information on crime prevention please visit the Crime Prevention section of our website: http://www.cityofvancouver.us/police/page/crime-prevention.
Source: Vancouver Police news release