Just got this in from Everett Police Spokesman Aaron Snell…
The Everett Police Department is releasing additional information to increase exposure in the hopes that additional victims will step forward.
On the evening of August 17, 2012, an 88-year-old Everett man returned home after visiting his 92-year-old wife in the hospital to find it ransacked. All of the jewelry, a laptop computer and the wife’s purse were missing along with the man’s World War II collection he brought home from the war. When the victim’s credit cards were used, detectives followed the leads and uncovered evidence linking the burglary to the robbery suspect and additional cases in Mountlake Terrace. Charges for Identity Theft in this case have been forwarded to the prosecutor.
Everett detectives spoke with Mountlake Terrace Police Department detectives and discovered two active investigations involving Hartness burglarizing elderly victim’s homes. In one case, detectives believe Hartness gained access to an occupied residence by posing as a maintenance worker and distracted the victim while he stole her credit cards. In the second case, it is held that Hartness snuck into an occupied residence and took items while the victims were in the other room. Charges in these cases have been forward to the prosecutor.
It is believed there are additional elderly victims who have not reported burglaries or may not realize they were victimized. We would like anyone with information regarding these burglaries, or is a victim, to please call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at (425) 257-8450.
October 12, 2012
Police Blotter