Tacoma, Washington – A repeat offender who victimized more than 40 hikers and campers in Olympic National Park and other parks was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to two years in federal prison to follow a 25-month state prison term.
41-year-old Michael Pickering of Aberdeen prowled at least four dozen cars at more than seven different trailheads and parking lots stretching from Mount Rainier National Park to trailheads in the interior of Olympic National Park.
U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran said during the trial, “The victims in this case didn’t just suffer a financial loss…some returned from what was supposed to be a relaxing time in nature to find themselves stranded with a damaged vehicle, their electronics, clothes and money stolen, marooned in the national forest, with no cell phone service.”
Court records show that in March of last year, Pickering and his girlfriend smashed windows and stole thousands of dollars of equipment from vehicles parked in Olympic National Park. This was the beginning of a month-long theft spree.
They used credit and debit cards stolen from the vehicles to make purchases at various stores, with the overall financial damage totaling more than $50,000.
They were only stopped when Pickering was caught walking out of a store where he used victims’ bank cards, with a window punch used to break car windows and three credit cards in a victim’s name in his pocket.
Pickering also stole expensive electronics, car and house keys, people’s clothing, makeup and even diaries, selling some of what he stole online.