ARLINGTON — A man reportedly tried to steal $750 worth of computers from Post Middle School early Monday morning and caused $6,400 worth of damage in the process.
A silent alarm called Arlington police to the scene around 1 a.m. Monday, according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. Officers arrested the man for investigation of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft, plus a few other offenses.
Once police arrived at the school, they noticed a flashlight shining in one of the buildings.
“While waiting for a K-9 to respond, a subject exited the building with his arms full of computers,” reads a post on the Arlington Police Department’s Facebook page.
He tried to run but tripped, according to a police report.
The suspect, 26, allegedly tried to steal iPads, laptops and an Apple desktop computer. He told police he used a screw driver to break in and that “any broken door handle on the building was from him,” court records say.
Police noted that eight door handles were broken. An Arlington School District employee who came to the scene said each would cost around $800 to fix.
As police talked with the man, he reportedly admitted he was trying to steal because he is addicted to drugs. Documents show the man is homeless. He lives in Arlington.
Besides burglary and theft, the man is being accused of malicious mischief and possession of burglary tools, as well as obstruction because the man ran after police told him to get on the ground, and he “hindered and delayed my investigation,” an officer wrote.
Online court records show he’s been convicted of multiple felonies in the past five years, including residential burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property.
He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail around 3 a.m. Monday.
Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.
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