Community Police & Fire

Police arrest teen suspect in December purse-snatchings

Gig Harbor Police arrested a suspect in two purse-snatchings that occurred outside Gig Harbor groceries in December.

Officers booked the 16-year-old suspect into the King County Juvenile Detention Center, according to a social media post from the police department. Officers arrested him outside his home in Federal Way.

Possible criminal charges include robbery and financial fraud for using the victims’ stolen credit cards.

Police said they have identified a second suspect in the case and are determining the extent of his involvement.

Gig Harbor Police shared this photo of suspects in a series of purse-snatchings in December.

The police department warned of three purse-snatching in early to mid December. The suspect is only charged in two of them so far, but officers are trying to link him to the third through forensic evidence.

The suspect is charged in connection with a crime on Dec. 9 in the Metropolitan Market parking lot, when a 77-year-old victim sustained “significant facial injuries and a broken nose”; and Dec. 11 at Safeway involving an 80-year-old woman. The third incident occurred Dec. 12 at Costco.

Gig Harbor Police thanked the cooperation of police in Bellevue and Renton in the case. Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey said the 16-year-old is also a suspect in multiple robberies in Bellevue and King County.