An 81-year-old woman confronted a thief who stole her purse in Albertsons at 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, at 2755 77th Ave. S.E.
The suspect, a tall man in his 20s, snatched the woman’s purse out of her shopping cart while she was choosing grocery items. She had left her cart unattended.
The woman was able to get her purse back after stopping the suspect, who fled in a green Ford Explorer. She gave a detailed description of the suspect to police. The purse contained cash, credit cards and papers.
By the numbers
For the month of May, the Mercer Island Police Department reported 25 arrests and 291 citations. Seven burglaries took place, along with 13 thefts, two cases of assault, and one auto theft. There were seven accidents, one pedestrian-vehicle accident, two hit-and-runs, three DUI arrests and 92 parking citations.
June 4
Hit and run: A parked Honda was struck at 7:30 a.m. in the 4500 block of 90th Avenue S.E. near Ellis Pond. A neighbor notified the vehicle’s owner, who was working in a private office, that the vehicle’s rear window had been shattered. It was determined that an unknown vehicle with a protrusion — such as a ladder or gardening equipment — struck the unoccupied vehicle while parking or turning around on the dead-end road.
June 6
Accident: A Toyota SUV pulled out in front of another SUV and caused an accident at 4:11 p.m. in the 4700 block of Island Crest Way. The driver who pulled out admitted fault, saying she did not double check for traffic. Neither vehicle was towed. The victim, 47, reported back pain.
June 7
iPhone Theft: An iPhone was stolen after 12 p.m. at Mercer Island High School in the 9100 block of S.E. 42nd Street when it was left unattended by a 15-year-old student. The iPhone, worth $500, has not been recovered, though it was tracked from downtown Seattle to Tukwila.
Boat adrift: A drifting boat became stuck on a drainage pipe at the edge of Slater Park in the 2800 block of 60th Avenue S.E. The boat belonged to residents of a nearby block and was impounded by Vessel Assist.
June 8
Burglary: A construction site in the 5200 block of Butterworth Road was burglarized sometime overnight, after 8 p.m. Multiple unsecured tools were stolen, including saws, mitres, a jack hammer and framing hammers, drills, chainsaw, two air hose and laser and construction levels. The loss surpassed $3,000. Potential suspects have been identified.
Thefts: A 46-year-old Mercer Island woman reported the theft of four rings between May 26 and May 31 at her residence in the 4600 block of East Mercer Way. She had placed the rings in a basket beside the kitchen sink, where they remained during a party attended by 22 guests — all family and friends. No suspects have been identified.
A police officer found two security caps from Albertsons alcoholic beverages at 9:30 p.m. in the road in the 7600 block of North Mercer Way. The officer reported the caps to Albertsons, which confirmed that two bottles of liquor had been stolen. Fingerprints were lifted for evidence.
Arrest: A police officer stopped a 21-year-old driver at 7:19 p.m. in the 2800 block of Island Crest Way for using his cell phone while driving. The driver was arrested for driving with a suspended license and four counts of failure to appear in court. He was cited, processed and released.
Fender-bender: A collision occurred at 6:36 p.m. in the intersection of S.E. 40th Street and Island Crest Way when a Mini Cooper rear-ended a vehicle that braked to avoid hitting a minivan that cut across a lane. All three vehicles were making a left-hand turn. Police cited the 44-year-old driver of the Mini Cooper for following too closely.
June 9
Liquor Theft: An Albertsons employee confronted a woman between 5:25 and 5:35 p.m. on suspicion of theft in the 2700 block of 77th Avenue S.E. The woman denied any theft but exited the store with four bottles of vodka worth $21.98 each. A man in a yellow Hummer who matched the description of the vehicle’s registered owner drove the woman away from the store.
Pedestrian accident: A vehicle struck a 15-year-old girl in a crosswalk at 6:19 p.m. in the 6500 block of S.E. 24th Street. Three witnesses were present and said that the vehicle swerved out of its lane, crossed the oncoming lane, and hit the girl. The vehicle then swerved back into its lane and left the scene. The girl was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries, including abrasions.
June 10
Arrest: Bellevue police arrested a 25-year-old man on a Mercer Island misdemeanor warrant at night and booked him into the Issaquah Jail.
Accident: A Honda Civic going 20 mph rear-ended a stopped vehicle waiting to turn left at 11:32 a.m. in the 8400 block of S.E. 68th Street. The driver of the Honda was treated at the scene for air bag burns and was cited for inattention. Both vehicles were damaged.
Hit and run: An unknown vehicle struck and damaged an unoccupied vehicle in a parking lot in the 7810 block of S.E. 30th Street sometime between 3 and 7:15 p.m. The victim reported the incident to a police officer when he was pulled over for a traffic violation.
June 11
Escape: A 24-year-old Renton man escaped from custody at 9:33 a.m. during a court commit at the Mercer Island Municipal Court at 9611 S.E. 36th Street. Police caught up with the man in the 3700 block of East Mercer Way and arrested him at 9:46 a.m. as he was fleeing the area.
June 12
Sandwich theft: A drunk Mercer Island man, 21, stole a turkey-bacon Panini sandwich and aluminum foil from the North end QFC after midnight in the 7800 block of S.E. 28th Street. One witness was present, and police cited the suspect before releasing him. The suspect was trespassed from the north QFC.
