Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Police Blotter | Officers warn of purse-snatchings

Editor’s note: The Blotter is written based on information provided by Gig Harbor Police , Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

Gig Harbor Police reported three purse-snatchings in parking lots during the week of Dec. 9.

In all three cases, the snatchers targeted “elderly” women who either carried their purses or left them in a shopping cart. Suspects struggled with the women if they resisted. In one case, such a struggle caused what police called “significant” facial injuries when the victim fell after trying to fight off the thief.

GHPD said investigators aren’t certain if the three cases involved the same suspects.

“We urge everyone to keep their personal possessions close and to not leave valuables unattended in carts or open vehicle trunks,” GHPD wrote in a Facebook post. “Be aware of your surroundings and people or vehicles that may approach you in public places. Prioritize your personal safety over that of your possessions.”

Officer interrupts attempted theft of ATM

Two men used a truck in an attempt to steal an ATM machine from a bank on Point Fosdick Drive early on Dec. 13.

A video security company alerted police of the attempt, and an officer arrived almost immediately. The officer saw the two men using a chain to connect the ATM and a rental truck, which they suspect was stolen.

The two suspects ran. Officers from Gig Harbor and deputies from Pierce and Kitsap counties, with help from a police dog, located one of them on Olympic Drive. They arrested that suspect, a 57-year-old, on suspicion of attempted felony theft and malicious mischief.

They were unable to locate the second suspect.

The incident caused about $60,000 damage to the bank, GHPD said.

Gig Harbor Police posted this image of a suspect in an attempted ATM theft.

Delivery driver just couldn’t wait

A Door Dash driver, angry that he had to wait in a fast food restaurant drive-through line, shattered the restaurant’s front door on the afternoon of Dec. 10.

The manager of the fast food joint on Kimball Drive told Gig Harbor Police that the restaurant lobby was closed due to a staffing shortage. Several cars were already in the drive-through lane when the Door Dash driver arrived.

The driver knocked on the locked front door and explained to the manager that he didn’t make any money if a delivery takes too long. He asked the manager to make an exception to the closed lobby and allow him to pick up his order inside.

The manager declined in a way that the driver told police was “very rude.” The driver then tried to kick the metal frame of the door, but missed and instead shattered the glass.

Officers forwarded a report of the incident to city prosecutors for a possible charge of malicious mischief.