| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 11:25 am |
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Local News 
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Lynnwood real estate agent faces felony theft charges EVERETT -- A Lynnwood real estate agent may have been better at casing homes than selling them.Phyllis Etzler-Tomaras and her husband Kenneth Tomaras are accused of stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry from numerous homes for sale in Snohomish County. Investigators believe the couple pawned the stolen property to pay for their addictions to prescription pain killers, according to court documents released this week. The state suspended Etzler's real estate license last summer after police began investigating her connection to the burglaries. Etzler, 52, now is facing three felony theft charges. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday. Her husband, 35, is charged with trafficking in stolen property. He pleaded not guilty Monday. The alleged thefts happened during the spring of 2008. Etzler is accused of using the code she was given as a real estate agent to gain access to key boxes for homes for sale. The boxes record the entry and the code used to gain access, according to court documents. Once inside, Etzler stole wedding rings, bracelets and watches, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Coleen St. Clair wrote in court papers. Tomaras pawned the jewelry within an hour or two of Etzler entering the homes, according to court documents. Investigators believe Etzler pawned some jewelry on her own at least once, St. Clair wrote. Police discovered that the couple pawned at least $20,000 in jewelry. Etzler initially denied stealing anything. She said all the jewelry she and her husband pawned had been willed to her by her grandmother, St. Clair wrote. Etzler then allegedly told police a client had been with her in the homes that were burglarized. The phone number she provided for the client turned out to be bogus, court papers said. Investigators also received complaints from two women who were duped by Etzler, St. Clair wrote. One woman told police Etzler gave her jewelry as collateral for a loan. The jewelry had been stolen from another woman. The first woman later discovered she also had been ripped off. Etzler and Tomaras were arrested last week in connection with another theft at a house at which they were hired to do painting. The homeowner reported that a hedge trimmer, six chain saws, a generator and nail gun were stolen. Police learned that Tomaras pawned the tools a few days before the theft was reported, St. Clair wrote. Etzler was there while her husband pawned the property, St. Clair added. Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. |
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