Renton police look to ID burglary suspect seen days before grocery store arson
RENTON, Wash. - Renton police are asking for the public's help in identifying an attempted burglary suspect caught on surveillance video breaking into a grocery store days before it burned down.
Top of the Hill Quality Produce was targeted in an apparent arson on August 24 at just before 3 a.m. Now, investigators say just before the fire, someone broke into the shop.
Can you identify this attempted burglary suspect at Top of the Hill Quality Produce? This crime occurred two days before the arson that destroyed the building. Full details below. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/b8sJowUNZu
— Renton Police Dept. (@RentonpdWA) August 30, 2024
Two days before the fire, police say a video shows a man repeatedly going to his car, retrieving different burglary tools, and returning to the store.
Despite heavy damage to the Top of the Hill's doors, the man was not able to enter. Renton police say he was there for about an hour at 11 p.m.
Police description
The man is described as being white, with dark, possibly reddish-brown hair, and a beard.
Police say he is estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old and driving a light-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee without a front license plate, model year between 2006-2010.
Authorities now say they have probable cause to arrest him for second-degree attempted burglary. Detectives also want to speak with the suspect about the arson, as he is now a person of interest.
"Because of the proximity of the attempted burglary to the arson, detectives are calling him a person of interest in the arson," said Meeghan Black, Public Information Officer for the Renton Police Department.
If you can identify this suspect or have any information or video from the area of Top of the Hill, please contact Detective Scott at dlscott@rentonwa.gov.
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