BELLEVUE WA – Authorities in Bellevue say two individuals believed to be connected to an organized crime group have been taken into custody following a series of thefts aimed at older adults.
According to the Bellevue Police Department, detectives were called to investigate a suspicious situation on April 8 in the 31400 block of 23rd Avenue South in Federal Way. The case is part of an ongoing investigation into a pattern of thefts.
Police reported that the suspects were spotted in a white Honda Accord near a senior living community, where they appeared to be targeting elderly residents. They later carried out similar behavior at a nearby grocery store before leaving the area.
Investigators were able to stop the vehicle in the 12000 block of Northeast 85th Street in Kirkland after establishing probable cause. Both individuals were arrested on charges of robbery and first-degree theft and booked into King County Jail.
Officials say the arrests are tied to a broader investigation that has been underway for several years. Since the summer of 2024, police have issued multiple public warnings about incidents involving older adults being approached by strangers who use deceptive tactics to steal valuable jewelry.
In many cases, authorities noted, victims did not realize their belongings had been taken until after the suspects had already left.