BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Three men are in custody after a home invasion burglary in Bellingham Tuesday night.
The residents were in the home in the 2700 block of Eldridge Avenue when they discovered the intruder, who had apparently entered through an unlocked door, said Bellingham Police spokesperson Mark Young.
“That intruder, along with two others who had not got into the house but were waiting outside, took off running,” Officer Young said.
A resident called 9-1-1 and a responding officer arrested two of the suspects in a matter of minutes.
A K-9 unit led officers to the third suspect who was hiding in blackberry bushes near Bellingham Technical College.
Young said one of the suspects had a backpack containing a laptop and camera taken from the home.
Police arrested David Maier, 19, Christopher Wade, 20, and Steven Chapman, 20, all from Bellingham. All three face burglary, theft and other charges.
Chapman was booked for possessing a dangerous weapon – a knife and brass knuckle combination.
The three men were booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
Young said the incident is a good reminder for residents to keep their doors locked.