Latest news with #BECU
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Seattle Storm Signs Naming Rights Deal With BECU For New Performance Center
BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance After over a decade of partnership, the Seattle Storm and BECU are expanding their work together to make BECU – Washington's largest credit union – the title partner of the Storm's new training facility and performance center. The newly named 'BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance' is a first in women's sports, marking the first time an independently owned WNBA team has secured a naming rights partner for a dedicated performance center. 'We have two brands deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest; two hometown teams that have decided to do something special together. To me, that is very exciting,' said Seattle Storm President and CEO Alisha Valavanis. 'This partnership is centered around what we can do in the community.' Opened in April of 2024, the Seattle Storm's training facility established a new standard in sports when it comes to providing best-in-class resources for women athletes. The BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance is a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot facility that is home to two indoor professional basketball courts, two outdoor 3x3 courts, a locker room, a nutrition center, a player lounge, strength and conditioning equipment, an aquatics center, and offices to accomodate the Storm's business operations. With an assist from BECU providing the financing to bring the facility to life, the Storm made history by creating the WNBA's first dedicated performance center that was designed and built from the ground up. The team's expanded partnership with BECU builds on the values both organizations have long shared and the work they have long done together over the last decade that has focused on equity, youth, and community development. 'It was the idea of women's sports that got BECU really interested, but even more importantly, it was this very clear, values driven organization that was so reflective of our own values,' said BECU President and CEO Beverly Anderson. 'As we watch the Seattle Storm continue to just rise and do incredible work in the communities, we knew that we wanted to do more.' As part of the expanded agreement, BECU is now the presenting partner of the Storm's Jr. Storm Community Hoops series – Together We Rise – which is a program that provides free basketball clinics and financial education resources for up to 600 local kids annually. The clinics will also include financial education resources for kids and families that will be delivered through the lens of basketball. The credit union will also donate $25,000 to the Storm's Kicks for Equality annual auction benefiting non-profits that align with the franchise's charitable arm, Force4Change. 'Honestly, the best part of this is all of the community development that we can do together,' said Anderson. 'Together, we will both be stronger and together, we will both serve this community in incredible and fundamentally new and different ways that are going to help not only both of our brands, but it's going to help all of the community and all the members we serve.' This expanded partnership – and notably the naming rights deal between the Storm and BECU – establishes a new benchmark for infrastructure investment in women's professional sports and underscores the growing commercial momentum behind the WNBA. For the Seattle Storm and BECU, it's about more than a commercial opportunity though; it's also about long-term impact for kids and communities in Seattle. 'We talk about the return on investment, we talk about the business case, but this is also a return on mission. This is a return on values. This is a return on the future we want to see,' said Valavanis.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Puyallup credit-card skimming scam compromised 900+ cards, drained accounts
Fraud investigators looking into devices that steal credit- or debit-card information in Puyallup recently found that over 900 cards were compromised in a scheme police have tied to two men accused of stealing thousands of dollars from their victims. The alleged fraudsters are suspected to have targeted 7-Eleven convenience stores with devices known as credit-card skimmers, then used the data to make withdrawals at ATMS in March and April, according to charging documents filed Thursday in Pierce County Superior Court. One victim lost $15,500 over a month and another had $12,800 stolen. Documents don't describe where the skimming devices were placed. Prosecutors have charged a 53-year-old man and a 39-year-old man each with two counts of first-degree identity theft and two counts of first-degree theft. Puyallup police arrested the older man Tuesday while he was shopping on Meridian after detectives found he was associated with a vehicle identified in a separate credit-card skimming investigation. He was located with the help of the city's FLOCK license-plate readers. A plea of not guilty to the charges was entered on his behalf at arraignment Thursday. Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille ordered him held at Pierce County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. That defendant's criminal history includes convictions in Romania and Hungary. According to the probable cause document, he was fined for complicity to counterfeit documents in 2004 in Hungary, was convicted of fraud in 2006 in Romania and was convicted for smuggling migrants in 2010 in Romania. The younger man has not yet been arrested, according to court records. He was reportedly encountered by Canadian law enforcement in October while with a 'known smuggler' attempting to enter the United States illegally. Detectives began investigating the case in March when they were contacted by a fraud investigator from BECU, according to the probable cause document. The investigator's team was compiling surveillance footage of suspects completing ATM withdrawals with cards believed to have been compromised at area 7-Eleven locations. Images of the suspects were sent to a nationwide email distribution list that specializes in those types of investigations. Detectives were contacted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the suspects. The U.S. Secret Service also reportedly contacted detectives about the older suspect more recently using a different last name. This helped police connect him to a separate fraud investigation in Puyallup where officers found he was renting a black Nissan Rogue. Officers placed an alert for the vehicle on the city's FLOCK database, and a camera captured the vehicle Tuesday traveling on Meridian. Credit-card skimmers can be found at fuel pumps, ATMs and other point-of-sale terminals, according to the FBI. Some are installed within the terminal, and others fit over the card reader. In some cases, customers' PIN numbers are recorded through pinhole cameras or keylogging keypad overlays. The devices store customer information to be downloaded or wirelessly transferred later. The data is then used to create fake payment cards to make unauthorized purchases or steal from an account. When the older suspect was arrested, police searched his vehicle and found a visa gift card. A police officer wrote in a report that these types of cards with magnetic strips can easily be programmed. According to the probable cause document, the man asked police during his arrest how they caught him. 'I explained we knew what car he was driving,' a police officer wrote in a report. 'He again inquired, 'How?' I replied, 'Police work.' He seemed impressed and said, 'Good work …''
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Leader in string of ATM thefts appearing in court, police say crew used Jaws of Life to steal $1M
The leader of a crew accused of stealing almost $1 million by using Jaws of Life to cut through ATMs is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for about a dozen charges. According to investigators, 30-year-old Scott Rhodes and three other suspects were involved in the theft of multiple ATMs and the subsequent damages done to the buildings. The crew was linked to at least four instances as far back as Oct. 9, 2024, according to court documents. King County Prosecutors said Rhodes was allegedly involved in the following: Oct. 9, 2024 - The crew allegedly used the Jaws of Life to rip an ATM from a Wells Fargo at 3310 W McGraw Street in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood. They made off with $322,000 and caused nearly $80,000 in damage to the building, including the cost of replacing the ATM. There were two instances of theft on Oct. 7 that were linked to the group. Rhodes allegedly was only involved in the previously mentioned incident. Dec. 26, 2024 - The crew used Jaws of Life and a torch to pry open an ATM at a Wells Fargo at 8551 Greenwood Ave. N in Seattle. They made off with about $194,670 from the ATM. Jan. 27, 2024 - Prosecutors Rhodes stole a construction excavator from a nearby construction site and crashed it into the BECU bank at 4319 Stone Way N in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. They were able to access two ATMs that were housed inside the unlocked lobby of the building. One of the ATMs had about $101,000 cash in it. The other ATM was abandoned but was still attached to the excavator. Damages were about $500,000 to the building. All of these thefts were committed using Jaws of Life to break open the ATMs and safes. This is a tool that the everyday person does not have access to. It is used primarily by first responders to cut open severely damaged vehicles to get victims or patients out. Rhodes was arrested on Feb. 19 in an operation aimed at catching and arresting the other suspects involved. Three of those suspects all had outstanding warrants that were unrelated to the alleged ATM thefts, according to court documents. Seattle Police, King County Sheriff's deputies , Kent Police, an FBI agent and King County SWAT Team all responded to try and arrest Rhodes. He was found inside a parked car in Edgewood, and when he realized what was happening, he crawled out of the sunroof, dropped a large bag of what appears to be cocaine, and ran off, according to charging documents. A K-9 with the sheriff's office caught up to him and bit him, allowing Rhodes to be arrested. Rhodes was also charged with first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, first-degree rape and second-degree assault for an unrelated incident on Dec. 12, 2024. Prosecutors asked that bail be set at $2 million for Rhodes 'due to the facts of this case including the defendant's access to large amounts of cash, as well as flight concerns as the defendant is a suspect in recent crimes in Oregon,' court documents said. Prosecutors also say that Rhodes is 'likely to commit a violent offense' and that he has a 'past record of committing offenses while on pretrial release, probation or parole.' A judge set bail at $250,000. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested in $1M Seattle burglary ring, ‘jaws of life' used in ATM, safe thefts
The Brief Local law enforcement and multiple federal agencies captured the leader of a crew suspected of multiple burglaries that used stolen vehicles and construction equipment. The suspects, four in total, used fire department "jaws of life" tools to steal from large safes and ATMs at Seattle businesses. The ringleader, Scott Rhodes, was booked into King County Jail for three counts of first-degree theft and three counts of malicious mischief. SEATTLE - Seattle police announced the arrest of a suspect in a $1 million burglary ring on Tuesday, where a crew used stolen vehicles and construction equipment to steal multiple ATMs. Local law enforcement and federal agencies assisted in the arrest operation on Feb. 19, where the ringleader, 30-year-old Scott Marcus Rhodes, was arrested. A Seattle detective was assigned to investigate a string of burglaries in October 2024, where police say large safes and ATMs were being stolen and torn apart. Police say the crew, consisting of four suspects, used stolen vehicles and fire department "jaws of life" tools to steal safe contents. It's believed these crimes were planned, as the vehicles used in the burglaries were stolen days in advance. Seattle police estimate the crew stole around $1 million and caused $500,000 in property damage. According to court documents, Rhodes and his group are responsible for an ATM theft at the BECU in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. They are also accused of several other ATM thefts, including at a Wells Fargo in the Magnolia neighborhood, another Wells Fargo in Greenwood, and a BECU in South Seattle. It's unknown if a burglary at the SODO Kemp's Cannabis dispensary was one of the group's suspected crimes, as a person used the "jaws of life" on the store's ATMs. Rhodes, the leader of the crew, was arrested by the King County Sheriff's SWAT Team in Edgewood in Pierce County. Investigators say they spotted Rhodes inside his car, and he tried to escape through the sunroof. He allegedly dropped a large bag of cocaine before being bit by a K9. The arrest was a collective effort by an SPD detective, King County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Kent Police Department, Department of Corrections, Attorney General's Office, and Offices of the United States Attorneys. Rhodes was booked into King County Jail for three counts of first-degree theft and three counts of malicious mischief. He also faces additional charges of two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of possession of burglary tools, and separate charges for rape, assault and kidnapping. His bail was set at $225,000. Rhodes will enter a plea on March 5 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The Source Information in this story is from a post from the Seattle Police Department, court documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Puyallup man killed, family now sending ashes back to Japan: 'That's his final trip' 4 arrested following car jacking, crash, chase in Spanaway, WA 'You steal for a living': Everett antique store confronts accused serial shoplifters 2 bills aimed at improving community safety in WA advance Pirate plunders boat motors from Gig Harbor, WA marina To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Stolen vehicles, ‘Jaws of Life' tools linked to $1M theft ring, Seattle police say
Seattle police, working with federal and local agencies, arrested a 30-year-old Auburn man for allegedly leading a sophisticated burglary ring that stole more than $1 million and caused over $500,000 in property damage. Scott Marcus Rhodes was arrested Feb. 19 at a home in Edgewood following a multi-agency investigation involving the Seattle Police Department (SPD), King County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Kent Police Department, Department of Corrections, U.S. Attorney's Office, and Washington Attorney General's Office. Rhodes faces 10 felony charges in King County Superior Court, including three counts of first-degree theft, three counts of first-degree malicious mischief, two counts of second-degree burglary, and two counts of possession of burglary tools. Prosecutors allege that Rhodes and his crew targeted ATMs and safes using stolen vehicles, construction equipment, and even the 'Jaws of Life'—a hydraulic rescue tool typically used by firefighters. According to charging documents, the burglaries spanned from October 2024 to January 2025 and showed a high level of planning. Surveillance footage captured Rhodes and other suspects dragging ATMs into vans, using fire rescue tools to open them, and even stealing an excavator to crash into a BECU bank. On Oct. 9, 2024, Rhodes and two accomplices allegedly stole an ATM containing more than $322,000 from a Wells Fargo branch on West McGraw Street. The theft caused more than $79,000 in damages. Later, on Dec. 26, 2024, Rhodes and another suspect reportedly broke into a Wells Fargo branch on Greenwood Avenue North, stealing nearly $195,000 after prying open and burning an ATM with a torch. The cost of replacing the ATM is estimated at $76,524. In the final known heist on Jan. 27, Rhodes and other suspects allegedly stole a construction excavator from a nearby site and drove it through the front of a BECU bank on Stone Way North. They made off with an ATM containing $101,000, leaving behind another damaged machine. The total damage to the bank's structure is estimated at $375,000. In total, the burglary ring is believed to have stolen $1,027,262, mostly in cash, and caused at least $506,709 in property damage. Prosecutors requested bail be set at $2 million, citing Rhodes' access to large sums of cash and pending criminal charges in Oregon. However, the court set bail at $250,000. Rhodes remains in custody at King County Correctional Facility. If released, prosecutors have requested that Rhodes be placed on electronic home detention with GPS monitoring. The court has also ordered Rhodes to have no contact with BECU, Wells Fargo, or his alleged accomplices.
