Man charged in burglary, identity theft case in Olympia

A 40-year-old Olympia man is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation into an attempted residential burglary and identity theft. 

 Prosecutors filed charges against Michael James Dement in Thurston County Superior Court on Sept. 19. He is accused of attempting to break into a residence in 3500 block of Surrey Drive NE earlier this year and using stolen personal information to access financial accounts. 

 According to an Olympia Police Department report, the alleged crimes occurred between May 2 and Sept. 4 of this year.

Investigators linked Dement to the incident through text messages found from the mobile phone of his alleged accomplice, identified as Matthew Rose, 37, of Tumwater. The phone contained details about the residence and travel schedule of the occupant.

According to the report, Dement and Rose attempted to gain access to the home while the resident was away but left the area after being noticed by a neighbor. 

During an investigation, it was discovered that Dement obtained and used the resident’s personal and financial information without authorization, resulting in fraudulent transactions.

He apparently tried to link accounts, open new credit lines and make unauthorized purchases.

“She (the victim) told me she received information from Walmart that someone fraudulently ordered an expensive camera on her account. Additionally, she received an unsolicited credit card from Capital One associated with a Kohl's account she did not open," an investigator states in the report.

"She told me that someone tried to link her account to her mother`s account, but no financial loss occurred."

Dement is currently behind bars in a different case. He is also facing charges of two counts of second-degree identity theft and attempted burglary in connection with the  Surrey Drive incident.

Rose was arrested in Lacey in a separate burglary case. Prosecutors are currently reviewing possible additional charges for him.