Kris Etheridge

Sonitrol Pacific’s detection of “scuffling and movement” sounds led police to arrest two suspected school burglars and recover electronics and a jar of marbles August 30.

Monitoring Operator Kris Etheridge received an impact-activated audio alert from the grade school around 3:30 a.m.  She heard a loud bang followed by prying noises and sounds of scuffling and movement.  Etheridge immediately called Mukilteo Police.  While police were on their way, she heard at least two people talking, most likely boys, and updated the officers.

Police caught two suspected burglars at the school.  They believe the two broke into the school through a window.  Officers located a laptop, monitor, additional electronic items and jar of marbles taken from the school outside a nearby high school and returned them to the grade school.

Employees from the school district found this incident unusual in many respects.  They were particularly perplexed that the burglars took the marbles, but left behind a cache of cookies that was sitting right next to the window where they broke in.

Operator Joe Orsborn

Sonitrol Pacific detected the noise made by three suspected school trespassers and an expert operator sent the school district’s security guard catch them.

Operator Joe Orsborn received the impact-activated audio security alert from the school a little before 11:00 p.m.  He heard a banging noise near a main entry door and called the security guard service.

The security guard caught three people trespassing as they tried to climb over the school’s fence.

This is the second time this summer that a Sonitrol Pacific detection has led to apprehensions at this school.  On June 22, three suspected burglars were caught.

Jessica Culver

Police caught one suspected school burglar on site and tracked a second to a home where he pretended to sleep after Sonitrol Pacific detected the break-in September 3.

Monitoring Operator Jessica Culver received the security system activation from the school just after 3:00 a.m.  She heard a tap sound and called the school district’s security guard service.  While the guard was on his way, Culver heard sounds of movement and received alerts from the school’s doors.  Tacoma Police were called.

The security guard caught one suspect when two people ran from the school.  Tacoma Police tracked the second suspect to the home of the first suspect, where he pretended to sleep on a couch in the basement.

Initially, the two suspects claimed they didn’t know each other, but their story quickly unravelled.

Bricia Mejia

The noise made by people throwing rocks at windows of a Puget Sound area grade school was detected by Sonitrol Pacific’s audio security system and police caught the suspected vandals September 5.

Monitoring Operator Bricia Mejia received the security system activation just after 7:00 p.m.  She heard the sounds of rocks being thrown and glass breaking.  Mejia called police to respond and a representative from the school district to keep them informed of what was happening at the school.  Soon after, Mejia heard voices and updated police.

Police found a shattered window at the school and apprehended two people suspected of breaking it.

Operator Joe Orsborn

Security audio of banging noises detected by Sonitrol Pacific led police to catch two suspected school vandals August 31.

Monitoring Operator Joe Orsborn received an activation of the audio security sensors in a room inside the school, he heard loud banging sounds and called Lakewood Police.  The banging noises continued while officers were on their way.

Police used a K9 unit to search the school and located two boys.  They were taken into custody.

Operator Michael Young

Police arrested a suspected trespasser inside a Puget Sound area school after Sonitrol Pacific’s security system detected him and the monitoring operator called officers September 6.

Operator Michael Young received the security system activations from the school, but only heard normal sounds.  He called a representative from the school who decided he would go investigate.  While the school district employee was on his way, Young heard a man’s voice and called police.

Officers caught one person.

According to the school district employee, the suspect got inside the school through an unlocked door.  He told police he was looking for a place to sleep and would be attending classes at that high school.

Kris Etheridge

For the second time in two weeks, Sonitrol Pacific detected threatening activity at a Puget Sound area high school and sent police to catch the suspected perpetrators August 31.

Operator Kris Etheridge received an impact-activated audio security alert from the school’s gym around 1 a.m.  She heard what sounded like a door opening and closing, followed by giggling and called authorities.  While the officers were on their way to the school, Etheridge could hear voices.

Everett Police located and detained five teenage girls.  The group admitted to kicking the door to the gym, but said they didn’t enter the school.  After questioning them, police turned the girls over to their parents.

On August 21, police detained three trespassers at this same school after Sonitrol Pacific detected them in the auditorium area.

Jessica Culver

Three teens detected inside a Puget Sound area high school by Sonitrol Pacific were detained by police for trespassing August 21.

Operator Jessica Culver received security system activations from the auditorium at the school just before 3 a.m.  She heard sounds of someone walking around.  Everett Police and the school district’s security guard service went to the school to investigate.

Officers used a police dog to search the campus and located three teens.  The three were detained and released to their parents.

Kris Etheridge

Deputies took four juveniles into custody suspected of breaking into a school’s band room after Sonitrol Pacific’s audio security system “heard” voices August 29.

Operator Kris Etheridge received the security alarm from the school’s band room just before 1:30 a.m.  She heard a metallic clang and a voice and called the King County Sheriff’s Department.  While officers were on their way, Etheridge received more system activations, one from the kitchen area.  She kept them updated on the activity as intruders moved through the building.

Deputies used a police dog to search the facility and tracked down four students of the school.

According to officers, the four got in through a broken door.  They didn’t take anything or do any damage.

The door was promptly fixed.

Sonitrol Pacific Operator Robin Goings

An alert Sonitrol Pacific operator kept an employee at a Tacoma area dental office from walking in on a burglary in progress thanks to detailed information provided by Sonitrol Pacific’s audio security system August 27.

Monitoring Operator Robin Goings received audio security activations from the patient treatment area and the staff lounge of Dr. Zimmer’s dental office around 8:15 p.m.  He didn’t hear anything unusual, but continued to receive more system alerts.  Goings called an employee of the clinic to learn if someone was working and she said she would go see.  Soon after, Goings heard coughing followed by sounds of movement and someone going through drawers.  He immediately called the employee to ask if she was inside already.  She was just outside.  Goings called the police and advised the employee to wait outside for them.

Police located and arrested a man who got inside by breaking a window.

The employee said she felt like Goings did his job to protect the dental clinic, but went above and beyond to protect her by staying on the phone with her and keeping control of the situation.