Have you been wondering who is responsible for all of the recent burglaries in View Ridge, Wedgwood and surrounding areas?
Well, today we may have at least a partial answer: Israel Hernandez, 21, of North Seattle, has been charged with burglarizing at least 16 homes in View Ridge, Wedgwood and Windermere, SeattleCrime.com is reporting.
In charging papers, King County prosecutors allege that between March 31 and April 21, Hernandez kicked in doors at 16 homes and made off with TVs, jewelry and tons of personal electronics items (laptops, Xboxes, Nintendo Wiis and iPods), which he kept at his sister’s Tukwila home.
Hernandez was caught thanks to an alert Sand Point neighbor who on April 16 called police after he saw the notorious “black van” pull into a neighbor’s driveway. Charging papers say the van — a black Dodge Caravan — pulled into a driveway and a man walked up to the house. Moments later the home’s burglary alarm went off and the man ran from the house. The neighbor got the license plate and called 911.
Days later, the van was found at Hernandez’s North Seattle apartment and towed. When Hernandez came to pick it up, he was chased and arrested. Items were recovered from his apartment and his sister’s apartment in Tukwila.
Police say Hernandez confessed to burglarizing homes in March and April. He said he he had a list of buyers who would call him to purchase computers and TVs “in quantity.” He also said three other crews were burglarizing homes in North Seattle.
Hernandez faces five counts of burglary. He said he was the driver and had several accomplices. No word on any cases against accomplices.
Court records, according to Seattlecrime.com, show that Hernandez has prior convictions for burglary, obstruction, DUI, minor in possession, and malicious mischief. He is being held in the King County Jail on $100,000 bail.
