The Island Blotter

Deputies on San Juan responded to a report of theft from a Friday Harbor store and searched for the suspect, though she remains at large and her island residency status remains a mystery.

A Friday Harbor shoplifter's debut in security camera footage wasn't quite the breakthrough moment they were hoping for; they were booked into jail for third-degree theft after denying involvement despite video evidence.

A Lopez resident reported a stolen kayak from the marina, and the investigation is paddling along—no suspect in sight yet.

A San Juan deputy located a suspect vehicle and recovered 18 campaign signs, proving that sign theft is definitely not a platform we endorse.

An Orcas deputy investigated a theft, which we can only assume was someone's prized collection of something very important to them.

A San Juan market manager called in a shoplifter they'd caught on camera, and a trespass warning letter was issued—because nothing says "please don't steal from us again" quite like official paperwork.

Someone stole a street sign on San Juan, proving that the only thing more elusive than a street sign is whoever took it, as deputies had no workable leads or suspects at the time.

A San Juan deputy took a theft report from sometime in the last three months, which is a wide window for someone to have really committed to the heist.

A theft on Lopez is under investigation, because apparently "island time" doesn't apply to larceny.

Someone's identity was stolen on Orcas, which is ironic—usually the only thing people steal here is the good parking spots.

An Orcas deputy responded to a theft complaint, proving that even on a small island, some people still can't resist taking things that aren't theirs.

A San Juan resident reported that someone had made an unauthorized withdrawal from their home—and no, not from their checking account.

A deputy investigated a residential burglary on San Juan Island where the thieves apparently decided the family's stuff wasn't worth the effort—nothing was missing, but a report was filed just in case the burglars change their minds.

A possible theft in Eastsound turned out to be a lot of possible and not much theft, so the reporting party decided to call it a day (and a non-case).

A Friday Harbor theft suspect received a trespass letter, which is the legal equivalent of "don't come back here, we mean it."

An Eastsound business got a double whammy—assault and theft—and our deputies are still piecing together what went wrong on this one.

An Orcas Island deputy took a complaint of a reported theft from a shared construction site where several power tools went missing—looks like someone wanted to take their relationship with those tools to the next level of commitment.

A commercial burglary in Eastsound was solved faster than you can say "cheese," thanks to video surveillance, physical evidence, and some very helpful citizens playing amateur detective.

Friday Harbor experienced a theft, though the suspect apparently believed in the "no witnesses, no crime" philosophy; investigators are open to other theories.

A deputy took a stolen vehicle report on Orcas Island—looks like someone decided to take a joyride without asking permission, and now we're playing the world's least fun game of hide-and-seek with a car.

A San Juan Island theft was documented and politely handed off to another agency, because nothing says "your problem now" quite like an informational report.

A Friday Harbor resident discovered that an uninvited guest had made a withdrawal from their home that the bank definitely didn't authorize, and deputies are currently investigating who made this unauthorized transfer.

A Friday Harbor business theft was resolved when the suspect realized that paying for items is actually how retail works, and all charges were dropped faster than the merchandise was grabbed.

An Eastsound resident reported her vehicle stolen by a family member who apparently decided a ferry ride to the mainland was cheaper than asking for the keys.

A Lopez Island resident got identity-jacked by someone apparently calling from the Middle East, but our vigilant bank caught the suspicious transaction and shut it down before any real damage was done. No loss, and the suspect remains roughly 6,000 miles away and equally uncooperative.

A Lopez deputy took a report of stolen guitar strings—or possibly the whole instrument. Either way, someone's day just became a lot less melodic.

A Friday Harbor resident learned an expensive lesson about unlocked vehicles: they're basically a vending machine for thieves, except the machine also takes your dignity.