Bellevue Police: 3 Arrested, Linked To 'Large Crime Operation'

BELLEVUE, WA — Three people from Kent were arrested by Bellevue police this week, suspected in a "large crime operation" that included identity theft, printing counterfeit cash, car theft, burglary and stealing guns, officials said Thursday.

In a news release, the police department said a car prowl report filed online sparked the investigation, eventually leading them to a Kent home full of stolen vehicles, guns, cash and other merchandise.

According to police, the report filed in October described a smash-and-grab that happened in broad daylight at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. A purse and packages were taken from the vehicle, $5,000 spent on the victim's credit cards and $2,500 withdrawn in cash. Police said all of it happened in just a few minutes, and before the victim had even returned to their car.

After reviewing surveillance video of the suspects using one of the stolen cards, detectives said they identified a 29-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man. A search warrant at their home netted four stolen vehicles, dozens of key fobs, printers used to make counterfeit money and IDs and two stolen guns, along with personal information from 50 victims, investigators said. The police department estimated detectives seized more than 60 bags of evidence from the Kent home.