Following a recent burglary on Redmond Ridge, during which two men broke through a glass door and tied up a female homeowner, the area’s Residential Owners Association President Jen Boon doesn’t think people in her community feel safe.
The burglary took place at about 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the 8100 block of 229th Drive Northeast. The woman, who wasn’t injured, broke free after two black men ransacked the house and stole her cell phone and cash from her purse, according to King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) deputy Charlie Akers. She went to a neighbor’s house and called 911.
“The neighbors are outright alarmed and disappointed to see the realized negative impacts of a King County Council that has cut the funding for the sheriffs in unincorporated King County,” Boon said. She feels the KCSO is doing the best it can to patrol the area with its current budget.
“(Residents need to) be on a heightened sense of awareness since we do not have the coverage that people in the cities enjoy based on average response time,” said Boon, who added that Redmond Ridge hires off-duty sheriffs.
In an email to the Reporter, King County Council member Kathy Lambert said, according to KCSO statistics, there has not been an increase in crimes in the Redmond Ridge area after the cuts.
“We have worked for years to protect the safety of the unincorporated area residents even through this long recession,” said Lambert, who noted that the council passed an ordinance a few years ago requested by the Trilogy area (near Redmond Ridge) to put restrictions on solicitations.
“Many were concerned that solicitors were coming to their doors and scouting out for burglaries. We have worked to keep the sheriff’s department with as few cuts as possible and given (the sheriff’s captain) more officers that he will put on patrol. That is our first priority,” Lambert added.
Boon asks people to report anything suspicious to the KCSO. She said that Redmond Ridge officials sent out an email blast to residents regarding the burglary and referred them to the KCSO e-policing website for safety ideas.
On Nov. 19, the woman heard a loud knock on the front door and then heard the doorbell ring, Akers said. She was upstairs getting ready to leave the house and didn’t answer the door when she heard the men break a glass door in the back of the house and enter the residence. When they went upstairs, they found the woman.
“It’s an open investigation and there doesn’t appear to be any breaks in the case. No suspects have been identified,” Akers said.
The deputy isn’t aware of any other burglaries in the Redmond Ridge area.
“It appears to be random. They picked a house — something about the house made it look unoccupied and they took the chance there. It’s an unfortunate event that occurs in our society. They were probably shocked that someone was inside,” said Akers, who advises people to install a monitored security system in their homes if possible.
