On December 11th, 2015 at approximately 0900 hours, Ferndale Police Officer T. James and Sergeant A. Stricker were made aware of a theft which occurred at the Udder Clean laundromat, located in the 600 block of Main Street in Ferndale. The date of the theft occurred on December 9th, 2015.
Security surveillance footage was obtained from the victim. After reviewing the security footage, the officers recognized one of the suspects, as well as the getaway vehicle and other key evidence. Officers also noticed one of the suspects was eating a well-known hot dog, by the color of its hot dog bun which is only sold at one store in Ferndale, one block away from the crime scene. Officers visited the store where they suspected the hotdog had been purchased, just prior to the theft. The officers reviewed the stores surveillance video footage and gathered additional evidence. After review of the stores surveillance video footage, they matched the vehicle and one of the suspects to the laundromat, along with the hotdog within minutes of the theft.
Officers drove to the suspects residence, located the getaway vehicle by specific and distinct characteristics on the vehicle. As they were examining the getaway vehicle, officers saw both suspects flee into the residence, but located some of the stolen property in plain view near the getaway vehicle. Officers recovered all stolen property and ultimately arrested 18-year-old Kyle Burns and 19-year-old Michael Hassett. Both Ferndale residents.
Both Burns and Hassett were booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for Commercial Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Possession of Stolen Property. The property was returned to its owner.
For further information, feel free to contact the Ferndale Police Department, refer to FePD Case # 15-200.
Once again, Ferndale Police Department appreciates the overwhelming support by the community’s effort to combat crime by reporting all crimes and suspicious activity.