ARLINGTON – Arlington police bike patrol and K9 officers took three out-of-towners into custody early Monday after they allegedly broke into a fenced commercial property downtown.

The incident occurred when two men were reportedly prowling vehicles in the 400 block of N. West Ave., police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

Believing a stealth approach would improve their chances of apprehending the suspects, the first officer approached on a patrol bicycle, while a K9 officer responded on foot.

The bicycle officer approached undetected, then dismounted quickly to confront the two suspects. They fled to a getaway vehicle driven by a woman who was waiting a block away.

A patrol officer intercepted the getaway vehicle before it could leave, while the K9 officer was able to arrest one of the suspects who tried to slip away from the vehicle on foot.

The trio was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary.

A 22-year-old man and 18-year-old woman, both from Marysville, were booked into Snohomish County Jail. A 16-year-old boy from Mountlake Terrace was sent to Denney Youth Center, also in Everett. The two males have outstanding felony warrants, Banfield said.

The getaway vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant, she added.

“This successful and swift apprehension occurred without a vehicle pursuit or force application, demonstrating the value of police bike patrols,” Banfield said.