Big feet clues aid police in theft arrest

MONROE, Wash., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Police in Washington state caught an alleged second-time thief because they noticed his large feet during his first arrest.

Benjamin A. Pickrell, 24, of Monroe was initially arrested Tuesday for car theft and was released about 2 a.m. Thursday, the Everett Herald reported.

The Herald did not report why authorities released Pickrell, who was booked and held in jail for investigation of first-degree burglary, among other allegations.

Five hours later, the same officers said they were summoned to a home where the homeowner said he had chased someone from his garage after a struggle during which the burglar had threatened him with a knife, the Everett Herald reported.

The homeowner said a large number of Canadian coins had been stolen from his car.

The officers also noticed there were size 16 shoe prints in the frost near the home.

"Upon closer inspection of the intruder's footprints in the frozen grass, it was obvious that the footprints were extremely large, measuring nearly 16 inches in length. The only person that came to mind that would have that size of shoe and be committing burglaries in the area was Ben Pickrell," the police report said.

The police nabbed the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Pickrell as he walked along the street in the vicinity of the alleged crime.

He admitted to having a knife and produced it from his pocket, the arrest report said.

When asked if he had other weapons, he replied, "Nope, just a bunch of change."

Police said when they asked whether the coins were Canadian and Pickrell said, "Yeah, how did you know?"

The size-16 shoes were taken into evidence and were later compared to the footprints in the frost, police said.

Pickrell is being held for investigation of methamphetamine possession and vehicle theft from Tuesday's alleged incident and possession of stolen property from both alleged incidents, with a combined bond of $125,000.