CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Package-theft suspect charged, released

6:49 PM: Quick followup: The package-theft suspect arrested last night after reader videos/photos led to tips and a police search is out of jail. 35-year-old Kelly W. Klein was charged with misdemeanor theft and pleaded not guilty at a hearing this morning; he was set free on personal recognizance. We haven’t seen court documents related to the charge yet and will likely have to get them from the city attorney – which handles misdemeanor cases – tomorrow. State records show no felony record for Klein.

9:26 PM: One side note to this emerged at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (full meeting report tomorrow) – while officers were staked out/searching for Klein last night, they made another arrest in the area after spotting someone in a stolen car.

DevNull March 21, 2017 (7:46 pm)

What’s his thinking in pleading not guilty when his face is on video?

WSB March 21, 2017 (7:50 pm)

Guilty pleas at arraignment are fairly uncommon, regardless of the evidence, though we’ve seen them more in misdemeanors than felonies.

Mark Schletty March 21, 2017 (7:52 pm)

Personal recognizance?? What is wrong with the judges around here? This guy is a predator and he is turned lose to continue to victimize our neighbors. Not even bail. The real risk to us is actually the judge, at least as much as the thief.

RayWest March 22, 2017 (4:25 am)

Mark, the man still faces charges. He is not just being set free without further prosecution. He will face a judge in court at a later date. Persons charged with low-level crimes are often released (with or without) bail if there is a low flight risk and they have strong ties to the communities. Jails are overcrowded and space needs to be available for those arrested for more serious crimes.

Jim March 21, 2017 (8:29 pm)

IF all the victims join in the prosecution, they can charge him with a felony. As thru the videos and witness statements and real evidence found,the postal inspector should be contacted if all the local police do is charge him with simple theft.

“It is a federal criminal offense to tamper with
the mail. So no matter how delightful and intriguing the neighbor’s
deliveries seem, avoid the temptation to pilfer a package from their porch because you’re short on Christmas gifts.

Theft of a letter, post card, package, bag, or mail from a US post
office or a collection center associated with USPS is subject to fines
and up to five years imprisonment, according to the United States Code, Section 1708. Receiving mail that was stolen is similarly punishable.”http://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2015/12/criminal-consequences-of-stealing-christmas-packages.html

Roddy March 21, 2017 (8:49 pm)

There is no point in arresting these people.

WestCake March 21, 2017 (10:30 pm)

They can’t afford to hold someone like that in jail.

Gawdger March 22, 2017 (12:13 am)

One way to be a “green” consumer is to use those used Amazon boxes (Those that aren’t stolen from your property beforehand) and fill them with your yard doggie patrol. Tape it up cleanly and leave it somewhere convenient so you don’t forget it on garbage day. I personally use my front deck and oddly enough some nice “person” comes along to collect it before that day arrives. I don’t know who you are Secret Dog Poop Collector…but you’ve been my hero for some time now.

Swede. March 22, 2017 (6:18 am)

That is awesome!

Wish we could see the persons face when they open the box!
Sarge March 22, 2017 (7:10 am)

Sorry but your leaving dog crap presents for thieves idea is Quite possibly the dumbest I’ve ever heard.

You want to piss off thieves that know where you live, when you leave for work and you have no idea who they are?

Your asking for retaliation from criminals, very bad idea.

schwaggy March 22, 2017 (8:23 am)

I like the idea of leaving poop-filled boxes for these scum, but once they’ve opened it, they’re simply going to leave your dog’s poop and the empty box somewhere else as garbage for somebody else to deal with.

David March 22, 2017 (10:38 am)

Do you have any info regarding specific items this individual stole? My wife and I had two packages (from two different stores) containing furniture for our first home we’re closing on and moving into this weekend that never arrived despite the tracking showing they were both delivered. The reason I ask is because it was around the time these thefts occurred, but a little ways away – we live in an apartment on Beach Drive, not far from La Rustica. The two vendors are replacing them, so that’s nice, but we thought it seemed a bit odd. I might put in a police report as a parting gift from us leaving West Seattle, but as this story shows, package thieves here just get let go all the time, so probably no point in bothering anymore. Just hoping things will be better in our new neighborhood in Lynnwood and that the Snohomish County officials are actually strict against thieves.

HelperMonkey March 22, 2017 (10:44 am)

Absolutely unbelievable that they would just let this guy go, presumably back to his house filled with stolen goods that he is now free to fence as he pleases, or go out and get more because he knows there are no consequences for package theft. What a scumbag, and what a scumbag judge that let him out on his own recognizance. I will be keeping an eye out for this POS in the neighborhood!

waikikigirl March 22, 2017 (11:15 am)

My husband was coming home from his DR. appointment earlier and said he saw the “truck” on Ambaum Blvd. SW and said it was the guy in the truck,,, so maybe he’s going into the Burien neighborhoods to steal now since he’s so well known in WS! ???

Double Dub Resident March 22, 2017 (3:44 pm)

Not to condone stealing of any nature, but seeing some of these people caught on camera stealing packages just angers me.

These people aren’t desperate. They have decent to nice cars. They have decent to nice clothes. They look employed, and yet these self entitled POS feel that it’s ok for them to steal from other people. What absolute worthless POS

Al March 22, 2017 (4:30 pm)

Why did they let him go?

Cerrutta March 22, 2017 (4:38 pm)

I can’t believe how many videos are on this blog incriminating the same man. Great work, community! I don’t think the KC prosecutor has to do much work now – -just play the videos in court, one after the other, and stare him down. We all know this thief is not going to stop stealing packages until he chances upon the one that contains just the right hair plugs!!

Mark March 22, 2017 (5:57 pm)

People are getting frustrated with this BS, when there is clear video evidence showing this low life scum stealing someone’s stuff and the letting them out on personal recognizance. What about the rights of victim’s? One of these days a victim will catch a thief in action and since the courts have failed will decide to take matters into their own hands.

Ripper March 22, 2017 (9:50 pm)

This guy needs to be thrown in prison, NOW!

Ernie March 22, 2017 (10:03 pm)

Not sure where to post this but I just saw a guy in front of jack in the box transporting a portable massage table balanced on his bicycle seat. If it’s yours he’s heading east on admiral pushing a red motocross bicycle with a ridiculously large padded massage table on it. I’m not sure why no one, including me thought this was out of the ordinary.

WSB March 22, 2017 (10:43 pm)

Ernie, if you have reason to believe that was a crime being committed, PLEASE call 911 to report it!

Ernie March 22, 2017 (11:10 pm)

I’ll consider that, unfortunately I feel it’ll fall on deaf ears. Thanks for the quick follow-up.

Kimberly D. Lowery March 24, 2017 (12:51 pm)

It will be interesting to see if this is the same guy.

WSB March 24, 2017 (1:05 pm)

Yes, it is. This is the initial lookup tool we use all the time. Neither of the Superior Court cases is criminal; we already looked at them. This lookup also brings up civil cases, and municipal court cases – the cause # there is the one for this case. District Court cases are often cases in which a person was never charged.

Khakijo April 6, 2017 (8:26 pm)

We were just finishing dinner when we noticed a man with a backpack on our deck. You have to open a gate, come down over 20 stone steps to get to our front door and he didnt even go there!. We caught him as we Came out our front door and asked him if we could help him. He said he was looking for a friend’s house and that his name was Joe, all while he was walking away. He then went back up the stairs and toward our neighbors whom we called and he came up to find him outside his garage. He then headed down dawson toward Erskine. If you see him call him joe and let him know we know he is around and are looking out for eachother. He has a backpack, is about 5’9″ tall, dark jacket, african american and had a type of badge on a lanyard hanging on his neck. He seems to be up to something just not sure what.