Bellingham Police arrest 23 people over two days for shoplifting at one Fred Meyer store
Bellingham police took 23 people into custody over two days for retail theft from Fred Meyer on West Bakerview Road.
The store has been significantly impacted by theft, so police patrolled the store Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 for several hours each day and handled the theft cases as they occurred, according to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department.
In total there were 12 counts of third-degree theft, a gross misdemeanor; nine counts of shoplifting, also a gross misdemeanor; and three counts of second-degree burglary, a class B felony.
While the arrests started as theft, shoplifting and burglary, police found many of the suspects had outstanding warrants or probable cause for other crimes. One suspect was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver for when 63 grams of methamphetamine was discovered during a body search.
Other people were arrested on suspicion of existing probable cause for first-degree theft, a class A felony; a felony warrant arrest; felony violation of a domestic violence no-contact order; obstructing a public servant; making false statements to a public official; and criminal trespass.
This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 1:39 PM.
.jpg)