The Fire Department was dispatched to the area of West Third Street and Hartford Avenue for a reported fuel spill on Thurs., April 14. Shortly after arriving, AFD requested a police response because it was apparent that this was the result of a gas theft from a vehicle. An officer responded and spoke to AFD personnel, who advised that the gas door had been opened and a hose was still present coming from the gas tank of the pickup truck when they arrived. AFD removed the hose and applied absorbent material to soak up the spilled fuel. The husband of the registered owner of the truck later spoke with an officer and said about 10 gallons was stolen or spilled on the ground and that the gas cap had been damaged. There are currently no suspects.
Anacortes Police also investigated these other cases.
Friday, April 8, 2022
An 82-year-old Anacortes woman reported that she was targeted by a scam involving a man who had contacted her stating he was from PayPal. He said her delivery valued at $648 would arrive in two days. Another call led to scammers “accidentally” placing $7,000 in her bank account and telling her to purchase gift cards to refund them. She did not do so and contacted her bank informing them of the issue. There was no monetary loss.
A local business owner found a pry bar, box cutter and screwdriver on the lawn near his shed. There was no sign of attempted entry into the nearby sheds. The responding officer advised the owner that this was found property, as the items appeared to be abandoned, and he opted to keep the items instead of having them disposed of, as their value was under $100.
A 34-year-old Anacortes woman was arrested, cited for second degree vehicle prowl, and released after she allegedly removed the keys from a tow truck that was in the process of towing her vehicle at the intersection of 29th Street and Q Avenue.
A 54-year-old Anacortes woman reported that she had been told that she had missed jury duty and that there would be a warrant out for her arrest if she did not pay to have a Zoom meeting with a federal judge. She was informed that this was a scam, and there was no monetary loss.
Saturday, April 9, 2022
A dog made a daring escape attempt in the 3600 block of west Fifth Street. The owner was requesting backup, but was able to single-handedly capture the dog.
Officers were dispatched to a fraud complaint at a business in the 1700 block of Commercial Avenue. An employee had reported that a man had just attempted to use a credit card that was declined, with a notice that the card was stolen. Another officer found the man and contacted him. Dispatch advised that he had warrants out of San Juan County, and the Skagit County jail confirmed it would accept the 34-year-old Eastsound man. The man then began to run, and officers were able to catch up with him and detain him following a short scuffle. The stolen card he had attempted to use was actually his own that he had previously reported stolen. Officers booked him into jail on his warrants and for resisting arrest.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
There was a two-vehicle non-injury traffic accident on Highway 20 when a vehicle failed to stop when traffic was slowing.
Monday, April 11, 2022
Dispatch advised of a cold theft at a church in the 1200 block of M Avenue. The reporting party, a 74-year-old Anacortes man, advised that he had noticed the gas cover left open and the gas cap missing from a church van the previous day. The reporting party estimated that about nine gallons had been taken and said there was no damage to the vehicle.
The reporting party reported someone at his neighbor’s mailbox with a crowbar in the 600 block of 37th Street. An officer responded and found the resident installing a new mailbox.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
An officer received an email about a person permitting their dog to run off-leash on the Guemes Channel Trail, with a provided license plate number. The reporting party said the dog’s owner claims her dog is nice and doesn’t wander away. The reporting party claimed that the dog recently charged at him while on the trail. The officer contacted the owner and she admitted to permitting her dog to be off leash, stating that “everyone loves my dog” and questioned why anyone would report a problem. The officer informed the woman that leash laws are applicable in all public places within the city aside from the dog park. The officer also advised that the reporting party should call 911 if he sees the dog off-leash again.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
The reporting party reported a white SUV possibly stealing mail, and then reported that it may have been mail delivery. The responding officer located the vehicle matching the description in the vicinity delivering the paper.
An officer was advised of a catalytic converted theft in the 1200 block of C Avenue. The officer called the victim and then responded to his house. The 79-year-old Anacortes man told the officer that his wife had tried to move one of their cars and it made a horrible noise. The officer looked under the vehicle and found that a large part of the exhaust was missing, confirming that the catalytic converter had been taken. There are currently no suspects.
Thursday, April 14, 2022
A 60-year-old Anacortes man reported that sometime overnight, his vehicle was broken into the driveway of his home in the 4100 block of H Avenue. He said he believed the vehicle was unlocked, as there was no damage done to the vehicle. The man said his wallet was taken, with about $183 worth of cash and items taken.
A woman thought her rental car was taken from the Anacortes Post Office. It turned out she left it at Coconut Kenny’s.
An officer was dispatched to a theft that had occurred at a business in the 700 block of Commercial Avenue. An employee advised that a man had taken about $130 worth of merchandise and left on a bike. Officers located a 31-year-old Anacortes man, who the employee later identified as the man who took the merchandise. He was booked into Skagit County jail on a Department of Corrections warrant for third-degree assault and banned from the business.