A purse was stolen at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center between 6:40 and 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at 8236 S.E. 24th Street.
A 38-year-old Seattle woman left her purse on a chair for more than 15 minutes, and when she returned, the purse was gone. The purse contained $20 in cash, multiple gift cards including Macy’s cards worth $275, and bank cards.
One witness was present, who said that a teenage girl had recently asked about the purse before taking it and walking toward the front counter. The purse, however, was not turned in, and the victim found it in a restroom garbage can without its contents.
MICEC has video footage of the girl stealing the purse.
April 23
Wrong-way driver: A Volvo wagon driven by a 43-year-old woman exited I-90 the wrong way at 5:50 p.m. in the 2200 block of West Mercer Way. While attempting a U-turn, she had to back up, and struck a passing vehicle that had been waiting for her to complete the turn. No injuries were reported.
April 24
Theft: A 62-year-old Mercer Island woman reported that several pieces of fine jewelry were missing from her apartment in the 7600 block of S.E. 27th Street after she returned from a trip. Jewelry items included a diamond brooch, jade necklace, pearl necklace and choker, earrings and a silver choker — all worth a total of $3,415. The woman’s daughter, 32, who had access to the apartment between April 20 and April 23, is suspect. The daughter, who is likely now in Texas, did not return any phone calls.
Fraud: A 71-year-old Mercer Island man reported at 12:47 p.m. that two unauthorized purchases were charged to his Mastercard credit card on March 27.
Accident: A vehicle driven by a 75-year-old man caused damage while backing out of a private driveway at 11 p.m. in the 3900 block of 96th Avenue S.E. The vehicle backed off of the driveway and onto an embankment, crushing a small decorative address fixture. The vehicle had to be towed from the embankment. The homeowner said he would make arrangements with the driver to replace the fixture. No injuries were reported.
April 25
Thefts: A black Trek bicycle worth $850 was stolen from a bike rack outside of 8451 S.E. 68th Street, in the South end shopping center, sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The bike had been locked to the rack, and the lock was cut.
A police officer responded to a potential theft at the Mercer Island Thrift Shop in the 7700 block of S.E. 34th Street. Thrift store staff had video footage of a possible theft — a woman taking a collectible item believed to be worth $75 at 10:47 a.m.
April 26
Assault: A 21-year-old man punched his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, 19, at 2:30 a.m. in a North end neighborhood. Two witnesses were present.
April 27
Car prowls: Someone stole a Washington state disabled parking pass, worth $10, out of an unlocked Volvo V70 at a gas pump at the Jacksons Shell station in the 2900 block of 78th Avenue S.E. while the victim stepped away from the vehicle for five minutes, between 3:30 and 3:35 p.m.
An unlocked Mazda was prowled between 5 and 11 p.m. at the victim’s workplace, in the Farmers Insurance parking lot in the 3000 block of 77th Avenue S.E. A calculator worth $100 was stolen, along with the ash tray, which contained an estimated $5 in change.
Theft: Several pieces of pearl jewelry belonging to an 87-year-old woman were stolen from her residence in the 4600 block of West Mercer Way sometime after April 23. The woman had not given anyone permission to take the jewelry.
Lost jewelry: A 68-year-old woman reported losing a gold necklace with three gold rings while taking a walk at 2 p.m. in the 7000 block of 78th Avenue S.E. One of the rings was a wedding ring with a diamond. The necklace chain either broke or was not properly clasped, and fell off.
April 28
Thefts: A “Wilderness Systems” one-person kayak worth $1,200 was stolen from shoreline property in the 4300 block of East Mercer Way sometime after April 25.
A 24-year-old woman’s iPhone was stolen during a benefit at New Hope International Church between 6 and 10:30 p.m. The iPhone was later located in West Seattle, through the MobileMe app.
Wallet found: A 12-year-old girl found an empty brown wallet in some bushes behind the Mercerdale Park woods at 2 p.m. in the 3200 block of 78th Avenue S.E. She also found a National Association of Retired Federal Employees 1996 membership card. Both items were in a ziplock bag.
April 29
DUI: Police stopped a sedan with its headlights off and arrested the driver, 17, at 12:38 a.m. in the 8000 block of S.E. 28th Street. The 17-year-old passenger, who was extremely intoxicated, was cited for minor in possession and was transported home.
April 30
Graffiti: Someone spray-painted 9/11 conspiracy messages, with stencils, onto the concrete walkway at Luther Burbank Park in the 2000 block of 84th Avenue S.E. overnight, causing $200 worth of damage.
Theft: A Farmers Insurance employee, 58, reported that a former employee stole seven blank checks from the finance department in July 2011. The suspect, a 44-year-old woman, took the checks out of an unsecured filing cabinet between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. She was then questioned and fired. Later, she tried to pass one of the checks through an acquaintance in Hawaii for $24,743.
