Sheriff says meet neighbors

Sheriff Mark Brown It was standing room only as Island County Sheriff Mark Brown held a meeting to discuss concerns surrounding escaped felon Colton Harris-Moore at the Mabana Fire Station last Tuesday night.

Brown said the fear and focus placed on the 18-year-old fugitive is disproportionate to the larger danger from other criminals.

"He's a very strong suspect but he's not the only suspect," said Brown. "I do believe he is back on the island, though."

Brown said he believes a combination of apathy and lack of connectivity between neighbors has laid the groundwork for a rash of recent break-ins.

"We're not prepared," he said. "We have a burglary problem."

There have been 39 burglaries on Camano Island in a oneyear period that ended in May, said Brown. In comparison, there were 38 burglaries for the same time period during the previous year.

"I want to put a dose of reality into the world we live in," Brown said. "I'm going to tell you what my community is doing wrong."

Brown said residents need to get to know their neighbors and watch out for one another.

"You have to be able to call them when you see some- thing that looks out of place," he said.

Locking doors and windows to homes, out buildings, boat houses and sheds is a critical component to personal security, said Brown.

He also advocated the installation of home alarm systems and video surveillance as deterrents.

"A burglar's biggest fear is noise and detection," he said.

Brown said the theft of a rifle, ammo, laptop, cell phone and camera from a patrol car in front of an offduty deputy's home remains very concerning.

Brown addressed critics who chastised the sheriff for not outfitting squad cars with alarm systems.

Putting alarm systems in patrol cars is neither economically practical nor tactically smart, he said.

"I want to be careful of a knee-jerk reaction," said Brown. "If I'm going to make a decision like that, I'm going to think about it before I do it."

Instead, Brown said his officers are increasing their vigilance and presence not only while on patrol but during their personal time as well.

Brown said a few of his deputies walk island trails during their off-duty time.

"They are armed and in plain clothes," he said. "These guys are keeping an eye out for anything suspicious."

Brown also gave Detective Mark Plumberg credit for solving a series of burglaries earlier this year.

Plumberg said four burglars who were arrested and jailed after a string of burglaries earlier this year on the island were responsible for the theft of nearly $100,000 worth of goods.

According to Plumberg, when you put their crimes side-by-side with what Harris Moore is alleged to have done, there is a great disparity.

"Those four guys were off the charts," said Plumberg. "Colton's the bottom of the charts — he's not even close."

Citizens asked Plumberg if he believed a recent breakin and theft of equipment at the Mabana Fire Station was related to Harris-Moore.

"You know the saying, 'if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it is probably a duck,'" said Plumberg. "Well, I know this burglary wasn't committed by a duck — not this duck anyway."

However, Plumberg said the theft from the deputy's car is likely related to Harris Moore.

"Yeah, I believe he's responsible for that," he said. "I believe he is armed now."

Reporter Rick Wood: 629- 8066 ext. 104 or rwood@scnews. com.