A Federal Way homeowner is out thousands of dollars worth of appliances and home materials after her house was burglarized by two men dressed as workers last Monday.
“It’s really unfortunate is what it is,” said homeowner Renee Betzendorfer, who had recently taken out her retirement savings to pay for the house’s remodel – about $30,000 total.
The home is vacant and has been for sale since July 14.
Several neighbors called police around 3 p.m. that day to report a suspicious pickup truck at the house, located in the 32800 block of Eighth Place SW.
Witnesses told police two men loaded a refrigerator, a cupboard and more items into the truck before leaving the area. Further, the truck had no license plates on it, according to a police report.
Betzendorfer said the thieves took more.
“They took all the brand new appliances, a new stove and oven, a microwave, dishwasher, trash compactor, light fixtures, French doors and door frames, mirrors on medicine cabinets, shower heads, and carpet out of one room,” she listed.
But the burglars were interrupted, Betzendorfer believes, because the gas insert of her fireplace had been pulled out and it appeared they were in the middle of taking items when police arrived.
Police searched the area but couldn’t find the white Chevy with a blue top, as neighbors described. Upon searching the house, they noted an open garage door and open window on the south side. There were no signs of forced entry.
After police couldn’t get a hold of the Betzendorfer at first, they contacted her father, who said the house has been shown to interested buyers numerous times but is supposed to be locked after every showing.
A realtor, who was showing the residence at the time of police investigations the next day, reported the windows in the back do not latch.
Betzendorfer’s father provided a list of missing items, which also included a Sears refrigerator and copper fittings from underneath the upstairs master bathroom sink.
“The appliances alone were $8,000, closer to $10,000,” Betzendorfer said. “That’s going to be the biggest gouge.”
Witnesses described a suspect as a white man, in his 30s, wearing all camouflage with black gloves and a snowboarding hat, and another suspect, also a white male in his 30s, but with black hair and black clothing.
But with no further leads, police have deemed the case inactive.
Betzendorfer’s brother had been living in the house before it was put up for sale. Prior to his tenancy, renters rented it for four years and the homeowner lived in it for two years before moving to Spokane.
The burglary came at an already-trying time for Betzendorfer. She just learned her home in Spokane will need a new drain field, a $12,000-$15,000 expense, and her 17-year-old was recently in a car accident, so she’s had to walk four miles to a bus stop to go to her job as a nurse.
“It’s a huge financial setback,” she said. “My daughter will have to postpone college for six months. We’re gonna have to make a couple of changes in our life, put some things on the back-burner.”
In spite of it all, Betzendorfer has a positive outlook.
“I’m a nurse, so I have seen people at their worst and just awful tragedies and situations,” she said. “No matter what I go through, that’s what I figure. I know there’s always other people going through worse.”
Federal Way Police Department spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said this year, overall, residential burglary is down by nearly a half in Federal Way, which matches the trend for the neighborhood this house is located in.
“We understand this certainly does not relieve the loss or fears associated with the burglary, however, it is notable the success we have had reducing this particular crime overall,” Schrock said in an email. “This is due, in part, to neighbors coming together to solve problems.”
She said even though the truck’s license plate couldn’t be identified, police will still consider its description in ongoing analysis of residential burglaries in the city. If it’s involved in additional crimes in the future, connections can be made, she said.
