Community Policing

Fostering Positive Relationships with Youth in Our Community

Part of growing up is about experimenting, pushing boundaries and seeking independence. These behaviors can be seen as disruptive or problematic by some people, making it feel like teens are causing trouble all the time.

Issaquah Police Department (IPD) does not get a lot of calls regarding teens, according to Chief Paula Schwan. However, when they do get calls, they are usually for very minor situations. She says the majority of calls do not involve actual crimes (unless standard teenage shenanigans count).

Schwan says most juvenile-related calls center around noise complaints and minor disruptive behavior.

There seems to be a worry that juveniles are shoplifting all the time. However, that is not being reflected in IPD’s calls. In fact, shoplifting and theft-related suspects tend to be adults in their 20–30s. A significant number of individuals arrested for these crimes were not even residents of Issaquah!

“For juveniles, we tend to see noise complaints the most in Issaquah Highlands, followed by other miscellaneous behavior like ‘ding dong ditching’ and other generally disruptive activities that are not serious nor violent crimes,” Schwan says.

In these cases, she explains that officers must observe first to see if they can confirm the behavior. They may request the juveniles lower their voices or find alternative places for their activities if nobody is at risk of being hurt.

On the rare occasion that there is a reported theft or other similar activity, officers are not legally allowed to speak to the juveniles without an attorney present. Schwan says this is a newer law passed in Washington state within

the past few years. However, this does not mean that no action is taken.

Officers will still try to get the individual’s name and information before calling their legal guardians. If the juveniles refuse to share information or run off, officers cannot chase them unless there is probable cause to arrest them. If evidence of a felony or domestic violence is found via other means (victim statements, video evidence, etc.), the juveniles will be arrested and booked into the King County Youth Center.

If you ever are concerned about teen activity in the community, you can always call 911 or the non-emergency line to get advice. Schwan added that officers will come and request the youth to stop engaging in their disruptive behavior.

“Just because you have called police does not mean anyone is automatically in trouble,” she says.

“Our officers are peacekeepers first, and the majority of our officers have children of their own, so they completely understand the complexities of these circumstances.”

It’s crucial for all of us in Issaquah Highlands to support and guide our youth, while also holding them accountable for their actions. By building strong connections with them and showing humility, Schwan says we can deter crime and empower the younger generation.

Let’s remember that they’re still learning how to navigate society, so it’s important to be patient and give them the confidence they need to grow.

By the Numbers: Crime Trends

Overall, crime rates in Issaquah—and the Issaquah Highlands community—are relatively low. Issaquah Highlands holds approximately 30% of the city’s total population yet represents only 19% of the 920 total crimes in Issaquah from January to May 2023.

Regardless of location, over 70% of all crimes are considered property crimes. Crimes against property include bribery, burglary, blackmail, fraud, theft and larceny, robbery, vandalism and more.

Over the past five months, data from Issaquah Police Department shows that 78 cases of larceny and theft offences occurred in Issaquah Highlands, which accounts for only 20% of cases across Issaquah. Shoplifters were responsible for 41 of these incidents, while car prowls accounted for an additional 17 cases.

In Issaquah Highlands, there were also 22 assault offences (35% of all Issaquah cases), 18 vandalism cases (24%), 14 trespass incidents (12%), 12 motor vehicle thefts (18%) and 10 reports of fraud (16%).

Neighborhood Block Watch Meeting Recap

Issaquah Police Department (IPD) officers dropped by our neighborhood safety meeting at Blakely Hall to discuss tips for preventing property crime in our community on Thursday, May 11.

Officer Mike Lucht said he encourages residents to call 911 when you see anything that looks remotely suspicious. This may look like someone walking around and touching car door handles or a questionable stranger looking in your neighbor’s open garage door.

He emphasized the importance of looking out for your neighbors! In the event of an emergency, and even for everyday happenings, it’s smart to share your contact information with neighbors on your street. For example: if you notice a neighbor’s garage door open past dusk, consider alerting them to lower the risk of theft.

“I encourage people to get out and talk to your neighbors,” he said. “You don’t have to be best friends, but you can watch out for each other. That’s just human nature.”

Lucht offered several other methods to prevent and prepare for property crime. He urges residents to walk through their home once per month to document items in case of a robbery. He also noted that keeping an inventory of highvalue items as well as their serial numbers is also helpful.

During the meeting, one attendee asked about the effectiveness of fake cameras compared to real ones. Lucht responded that real cameras are ideal, but both options can help to prevent crime. When deciding between investing in cameras versus security, he opted for the former.

“Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes,” he said. “Cameras have come so far in the last 10 years.”

He warns that cameras are not an instant solution, but they can see clothing and car descriptions as well as license plates. Occasionally, small cameras on your property can help officers link to other crimes by analyzing footage.

Lucht also suggested that residents consider investing in SimpliSafe, a self-installed security system that allows you to add as many alarm sensors as you want.

According to IPD, residential burglaries can take less than five minutes. Burglars are often looking for small expensive items like jewelry, laptops and game consoles that can easily be traded for cash. You can protect your home by installing lights, trimming your shrubs back from windows and doors, keeping valuables in a safe deposit box, locking doors and windows, and more. IPD also offers an inspection checklist (available on issaquahhighlands.com) for crime prevention through environmental design like windows, doors, landscaping, etc.

Residents interested in learning about community safety will continue to meet at Blakely Hall quarterly, with representatives from IPD and special guests to help the community come together to prevent crime.