A Kent couple who tried to help a homeless man and woman by taking them in during the winter holidays reportedly were robbed in their own home early Monday morning. Kent Police were called to the couple’s downtown Kent apartment at about 2:20 a.m. The couple told police that their guests, a 25-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, used a knife to threaten and rob them.
The victims, a 45-year-old man and his 40-year-old girlfriend, recently had opened their home to the pair at the request of a mutual friend. However, they became wary of their guests almost immediately, after damage was done to their residence.
Late Sunday night the male victim came home to find his girlfriend asleep on the floor in a home office. In the meantime, the 23-year-old homeless woman was rummaging through a nearby closet in the same room and hurriedly left when discovered. The homeowner did an inventory and noticed several items missing, including some rare coins and other personal items. A short while later his girlfriend awoke, indicating that she felt that she had been drugged. They also discovered a quantity of prescription medicines missing. The homeowners confronted their guests, whereupon some of the missing property was returned. When the residents attempted to call police, the homeless man brandished a large knife. Feeling threatened and intimidated, the Kent couple allowed the pair to escape, and then called police.
Responding Kent officers quickly encircled the area and a canine track was started. A short time later, the canine team located and arrested both suspects as they hid in the crawlspace of a nearby residence. The team also reportedly located the stolen property during their search, returning it to the victims. “The quick response of our officers and the tenacity of the canine search team led to the arrest of both suspects. We’re also happy that we could return the stolen property, which had significant sentimental value, to its rightful owners” said Kent Police Sgt. Dave Buck.
The female victim was examined by Kent Firefighters and sent to Valley Medical Center for further examination. Both suspects were taken to the Kent jail in anticipation of charges being filed.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
