PORT ORCHARD — A Bremerton woman wanted since September 2022 for a string of burglaries and car prowls in Sequim and Port Angeles has been arrested by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office on outstanding Jefferson County warrants stemming from a series of June and October burglaries in Brinnon and Quilcene.
Tina Woods, 48, was arrested Wednesday and is being held in Kitsap County Jail for investigation of six charges: failure to appear/contempt of court, second-degree burglary, residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, second-degree possession of stolen property and possession of stolen mail.
The case is being reviewed by the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
In August 2022, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office requested arrest warrants for Woods and two others — Cory G. Smith, 35, and Tina’s husband Paul “Bud” Woods, 37 — all from the Bremerton/Poulsbo area.
They were being sought for second-degree burglary, second-degree organized retail theft, second- and third-degree malicious mischief, felony and misdemeanor criminal conspiracy and second-degree possession of stolen property.
They were wanted in connection with burglaries at Hartnagel Building Supply, Port Angeles Power and Equipment, and Leitz Farm Store-Sequim on July 20, 2022.
A probable cause statement filed in October 2023 by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Woods was suspected in crimes committed this year — a June burglary and theft in Port Ludlow, a June break-in at the Chimacum Post Office, a June theft of a safe from a Port Townsend business that was found in Hansville and a home burglary in Quilcene, as well as three October burglaries in Brinnon and an October burglary at the Brinnon Post Office.
The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release that Woods is suspected in an Oct. 15 burglary at the Olalla Post Office, 6030 Southeast Burley Road, that led to at least five home burglaries. She is suspected of stealing a list of homes with mail-hold requests and breaking into the homes while residents were out of town.
The release said: “An employee arriving at work discovered a door to the building propped open. A safe inside was found with a large hole cut into it and the office ransacked with mail and packages opened and strewn about.”
Kitsap County Sheriff’s detectives were contacted by the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office two days after the break-in, saying the burglar also had taken documents with the addresses of homes that had requested mail-holds because the residents were out of town and did not want mail delivered, the release said.
Five homeowners on the mail-hold list have reported their homes were burglarized. Two vehicles also were reported stolen during two of the burglaries because the keys were left in the homes while the residents were gone.
Woods was arrested Wednesday after a search warrant was served at her home in the 6200 block of Sunset Ave., according to the release.
A man at the residence initially claimed she was not there, but she was found curled up in a small dresser that was altered to serve as a hiding place.
In addition to the burglaries and other crimes in Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties, Woods also is suspected of burglaries in Mason County.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.