Kris Etheridge

Deputies arrested two people suspected of burglarizing a Puget Sound area school after Sonitrol Pacific audio security sensors detected the break-in December 27.

Monitoring Operator Kris Etheridge received an impact-activated audio security alert from a portable classroom at the school around 3:30 a.m.  She heard “rustling noises and voices” and called officials.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies responded quickly to Sonitrol Pacific’s verified burglar alarm and saw two men near the portable.  One suspect was immediately caught.  He gave officers the name of his partner and deputies took him into custody too.  Both confessed to what they did.

According to deputies, the two men initially tried to break into the school’s main building through the roof.  Unsuccessful, they jumped off.  One of the men hurt his leg when he landed.  Next, they went to the portable classrooms, removed the screens and tried to push open the windows.  One window gave and they got inside.  Papers were thrown, computer cords cut and a stapler, computer mouse and monitor were taken.  The men took away the stolen items and headed back to the portable.  At this point, deputies spotted them.

“Without Kris’ fast response time they would have been able to do a lot more damage,” said an employee from the school.