Thieves hit Bellevue apartment complex in Factoria

BELLEVUE -- At the Park West at Somerset Apartments in Bellevue's Factoria neighborhood, there is crime where there has been none before.

"It's really surprising. It's never happened to me before -- ever,” Heather Coles said.

Coles never thought it would happen to her.

Richard Westerman didn't either.

"They jimmied the door and took what they wanted and one was a 1939 Lawson outboard motor,” victim Richard Westerman said.

That was given to him by his father.

It's just one of many stolen items on which no one can put a price tag.

"We had a lot of invaluable things taken because they were developer tools for older hardware for video games that don't really exist so that's why they are invaluable,” Coles said.



Police say at least a a half-dozen closet-style storage units were pried open and cleaned out in just a matter of minutes and more may still be unreported.

They are all double locked with a deadbolt but it was no match for the thieves.

Heather's car was also broken into -- one of four hit that night.

Sheri Campbell's truck was another.

Anything small and valuable was stolen.

"Cash, shoes, glassware, eye glassware, money, so we're talking about thousands of dollars,” victim Sheri Campbell said.

Maybe as much as $5,000 in cash and property.

Police came out and dusted for fingerprints.

They say evidence was recovered and the investigation is ramping up.

"Part of the reason we moved here is because it's so safe. It's south Bellevue, but it's still Bellevue and Bellevue is a really safe neighborhood, most of the time. When this stuff happens it's really scary for the whole neighborhood, ” Coles said.

Police say this is an unfortunate reminder for all of us to always lock your doors and never to leave anything of value in your car or your outside storage unit.