Bellingham man breaks in again after allegedly stealing $15,000 in dental equipment
A transient Bellingham man allegedly broke into a Sunnyland neighborhood business and stole $15,000 worth of property, including high-priced dental equipment, before breaking back in to the same business approximately 12 hours later and being arrested.
Bellingham police booked Stephen Rick Charlie, 60, into Whatcom County Jail Monday, Aug. 31, on suspicion of two counts of second-degree burglary and one count each of first-degree theft and second- and third-degree malicious mischief.
Officers were first called at 5:30 p.m. Sunday to the business in the 2200 block of James Street for a burglary report, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email. The owner reported that an unknown man had entered the business while it was closed, trashed the inside and stole an estimated $15,000 in property, including the dental equipment.
The damage caused during the break in was estimated to be less than $750, Murphy reported.
At 5:07 a.m. Monday, officers were called back to the same business, when a security system alerted the owner and showed an unknown person inside the closed business, Murphy wrote.
Officers found Charlie inside, who admitted to committing the burglary the night before and was in possession of some of the stolen property, Murphy reported. He also reportedly told officers he stashed some of equipment outside the building, where police found much of the expensive dental equipment.
During the second break in, Charlie broke a window, causing approximately $1,000 in damage, according to Murphy.
Charlie is already awaiting arraignment scheduled for Sept. 25 for malicious mischief and vehicle prowling for a May 3 incident, in which he allegedly damaged two company vehicles while breaking into them, stolen items from inside one of them and was arrested after he was spotted walking past the business a day later, Whatcom County Superior Court records show.
Court records show Charlie has multiple previous convictions for burglary, controlled substance possession, assault, theft, DUI, eluding police and escape since 1985 in Whatcom County.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 12:35 PM.
