The Port Townsend Police Department (PTPD) has seen quick results from fresh publicity on a website that posts images of subjects wanted for questioning in shoplifting cases.

The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader published a story on the front page of its Feb. 25 edition, and the Peninsula Daily News (PDN) followed with a front-page story on Feb. 26.

On Feb. 26, the loss prevention manager of the Forks Outfitters store emailed the PTPD after reading about, and then visiting, the website, said PTPD Detective Luke Bogues. The businessman recognized the individual pictured in case no. 14-9778 as Trinston Rigby, 29. The case is about the alleged theft on Dec. 30, 2014 of two flashlights valued at $86 from Henery Do It Best Hardware in Port Townsend, Bogues said.

Forks Police officers Julie Goode and Todd Garcia assisted Bogues by confirming that the individual in the surveillance video appeared to be Rigby. Bogues learned that during the time of the theft, Rigby had been in Port Townsend to appear in Jefferson County District Court for an unrelated case.

“I checked courtroom video from that time and observed he wore the same clothing during his appearance,” Bogues said.

Rigby appeared in court in Port Townsend on March 4, where he was arrested by Bogues with the assistance of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the courthouse. Bogues said that, at the time of his arrest, Rigby was wearing what appears to be the same hat as the man in the video.

When presented with the evidence, Bogues said, Rigby confessed to the theft of the flashlights. Bogues is filing a report with the city prosecutor recommending charges of third-degree theft.

“This was an outstanding example of cooperation between community members and law enforcement,” Bogues wrote to the Leader and to the PDN. “I’m ecstatic by the experience of using CanYouID.me, and I hope we can replicate this success to solve additional crimes against people and businesses in Port Townsend.”

The man from Forks became the 189th person identified by photos posted on

CanYouID.me, a website managed by the police department in Lake Forest Park, Washington. Bogues had just started to use the website for Port Townsend cases.

There have been a few contacts about possible IDs, but no firm evidence in any of the other cases, Bogues told the Leader on March 5. Bogues told the Leader that the quality of many images taken from video is poor, and determining ID may be difficult.

NEW CASE

The PTPD on March 5 posted photos of an adult female who is suspected of entering the office at Pet Townsend just before 3 p.m. on Feb. 21 and stealing from an employee’s purse. There is a boy, with an estimated age of 8-10, who was in the store with the woman. See the photos at

canyouid.me/blog/2015/03/ptpd15-1160.

Bogues intends to use the website whenever images are available for investigations requiring assistance. He believes the larger thefts of liquor are carried out by people outside the area, so IDs may be more difficult to obtain locally. More of the routine shoplifting cases may have local connections.

“It’s the smaller shops in town that are struggling to get by that it hurts most,” Bogues said of shoplifting. “Unfortunately, most of those shops haven’t invested in security camera systems. We get many reports from these stores of shoplifting and a suspect disappears onto Water Street to never be identified.”

GOOD ADVICE

Bogues recommends that an eight-camera, high-definition security camera system sells for around $50 at Costco. “I can’t stress enough how a system like that, along with proper placement of the cameras, can pay for itself,” Bogues said. “Businesses that have previously invested in security cameras should look at upgrading their system about every seven to 10 years as technology improves.”

Bogues noted that camera placement is critical.

“It’s natural to want to make the cameras inconspicuous and hide them on the ceiling, but criminals have a propensity to wear hats. The best cameras are at eye level,” Bogues said. “And make sure the recorder is kept off-site or secured in an attic or place otherwise difficult to access. We’ve had several burglaries where cameras were installed, but the thieves simply stole the digital video recorder.”