Olympia police arrest second car prowl suspect in two weeks

Olympia police arrested another vehicle prowl suspect Wednesday after they found stolen property in the 34-year-old man’s car, home and a storage unit he had rented.

According to police, the Olympia man was arrested after his black Range Rover was identified at the scene of multiple vehicle prowls.

The man is expected to appear in Thurston County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon. The Olympian doesn’t release the names of suspects until they have appeared in court.

On March 2, a Port of Olympia security guard asked the driver of a black Range Rover to leave a reserved parking lot. A vehicle prowl had been reported the previous night, so the security guard wrote down the vehicle’s license plate.

On March 14, a vehicle prowl was reported at Kennydell Park, near Black Lake. The suspect reported seeing a black Range Rover drive away. The next day, the victim reported seeing the same vehicle and suspect at a gas station and took a photo of the suspect, the Range Rover and its license plate, according to police.

It was the same license plate the Port of Olympia security guard recorded.

On March 15, a victim was sleeping in his car at Priest Point Park, in Olympia, when his car window was smashed out. He awoke and startled the suspect, who fled in a black Range Rover. The man’s description of the suspect matched the one the Kennydale Park victim had provided, according to police.

Police identified the suspect, and obtained a search warrant. Officers found several stolen items, including purses, backpacks, clothing, electronics, golf clubs, motorcycle helmets, an inflatable kayak, sleeping bags, photo IDs, paperwork, a passport and two snowboards, according to police.

The suspect allegedly confessed to using the storage unit to house stolen property and admitted to committing 20 or more vehicle prowls in the past month.

Officers searched the suspect and found methamphetamine, according to police. He has five previous felony convictions for residential burglary and drug possession.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Olympia police arrest second car prowl suspect in two weeks."