Tacoma police arrested three men late Sunday on suspicion of getting into a fenced Tacoma Public Utilities lot and trying to steal expensive pieces of metal.

A security guard working at the utility’s main office, 3628 S. 35th St., first spotted the three suspects on the surveillance cameras just before 11 p.m. The men got into a fenced lot and started to throw several pieces of metal back over the fence line.

Tacoma police officers were called. The responding officers set up a containment area.

The suspects were seen jumping back over the fence and going into a nearby field …

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Tacoma police have arrested a 35-year-old woman suspected of using a ruse to get into the homes of six victims, many elderly, and then stealing their purses, wallets, identification cards and jewelry.

Yolanda D. Pouncey has been charged with 15 crimes - first-degree burglary, theft, identity theft and six counts of residential burglary. She was arraigned Thursday and is being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Prosecutors have charged Pouncey with crimes against six victims. The victims range in age from 56 to 94 and live in Tacoma and Puyallup.

Charging documents indicate Pouncey operated in a …

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Tacoma police arrested three people suspected of burglarizing a Pioneer Way smoke shop Thursday night.

Puyallup Tribal police officers notified Tacoma police about the burglary of the Lil’ Red smoke shop at 2721 Pioneer Way The tribal officers also had a description of a vehicle associated with the burglars, Tacoma police reported.

A short time later, a Tacoma patrol officer working on the East Side spotted the suspects’ vehicle and initiated a traffic stop.

Three people were arrested in connection with the burglary and turned over to tribal officers. Officers found several items that had been stolen from the smoke …

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The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying four people believed to be involved in a series of burglaries in the Gig Harbor-area.

Investigators say the suspects have used credit cards stolen in at least one of the burglaries to rack up large purchases at local stores.

One of the burglaries occurred just after midnight Aug. 17. A homeowner on 53rd Avenue Northwest heard the garage door open, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The victim later discovered that two GPS systems and a purse containing credit cards was stolen from the …

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Pierce County sheriff’s investigators are trying to identify two people suspected of burglarizing a Gig Harbor home, stealing $10,000 worth of jewelry and other items and fraudulently using stolen credit cards.

Surveillance images of the man and woman were released today in hopes someone recognizes them. In addition, Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges filed in the case.

The burglary occurred the morning of Aug. 31 at a house on 35th Street Northwest. Sometime between 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.,  the suspects forced their way inside through a locked front door, …

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City of Tacoma residents can get a free security assessment as part of a new effort by city government.

The residential security survey assessments are part of the city-wide Safe and Clean efforts. The effort, launched last year, aims to reduce crime and clean up the neighborhoods throughout Tacoma.

As part of the initiative, a Defensible Space Team was created. Team members will be available to evaluate residents’ homes for security, a city announcement stated. They can recommend additional security measures and changes to the physical environment to help enhance security and reduce the attractiveness to burglars.

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Pierce County prosecutors have charged 35-year-old man in connection with  burglary at a Bonney Lake cigar store earlier this week.

Court documents provide the following information:

Bonney Lake police were called to the Cigar Store, 19641 State Route 410, on Wednesday for a burglary alarm. They found a rock had been thrown through a window and a number of cigarette cartoons stolen. A store employee responded to the scene and reported that $15,000 worth of cigarettes were taken.

A short time later, Tacoma police officers stopped a van driven by Jamelle R. Stevens for defective equipment. The van pulled over …

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Gang officers from the Lakewood and Tacoma police departments arrested a suspected burglar with gang ties Wednesday night in Lakewood.

Prosecutors had charged Jason “Popeye” Delacruz with first-degree trafficking in stolen property and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. (He’s one of six people charged in the case.)

Charging documents indicate he was involved in three burglaries, including one at a Washington State Patrol trooper’s house, in June.  Two burglaries occurred in Lakewood; the third was in Graham, according to court documents. Firearms were stolen in two of the burglaries.

Property from the burglaries was then sold at …

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