Every 23 seconds in the United States, a thief takes off with another person’s car or truck. Last year, Newcastle alone had 56 vehicles stolen. Anti-theft devices such as alarms, window etchings, and steering wheel locks help deter auto thieves. In an effort to combat auto thefts in our city, Newcastle Police have collaborated with Winners International, makers of ‘The Club’ steering wheel locks to offer the locks to people who live and work in Newcastle.

Two different sizes of The Club are available for purchase at City Hall at cost, well below retail. The small lock will fit passenger vehicles and the large lock will fit SUVs and trucks.

If you wish to purchase ‘The Club’ for use on your vehicle, contact the front desk of City Hall during business hours (8 AM – 5 PM, Monday—Friday). The small club is available for $10.00 plus tax, and the large club is $15.00 plus tax, cash or check only please.

The City of Newcastle uses the Mercer Island Municipal Court to provide court services. The court is located on Mercer Island and is open to the public Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm. The court is closed weekdays 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Friday's and holidays. To find out more information about traffic tickets, orders for protection, criminal cases, warrants and other information you can visit the Mercer Island Municipal Court website at www.ci.mercer-island.wa.us

Mercer Island District Court
9611 SE 36 Street
Mercer Island, WA 98040
phone: 206.236.3451

For information on small claims, name change, passport application, you can visit the King County District Court website at www.metrokc.gov/kcdc for further information.

The Newcastle Police Department is committed to helping victims of domestic violence. If you are having a problem with a family member call 911 or for general questions or assistance you can contact the Eastside Domestic Violence Unit at 425.746.1940.

The Newcastle City Council is also committed to helping victims of domestic violence and to holding abusers responsible. The City has hired an aggressive and experienced prosecuting attorney who specializes in domestic violence cases. The City Council also approved the hiring of a domestic violence advocate to help victims through the process. We can assure abusers that in Newcastle there will be zero tolerance for domestic violence.

On May 17, 2005 the Newcastle City Council passed an ordinance requiring peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants to obtain a door-to-door sales permit from the City prior to conducting business in Newcastle. The ordinance requires each door-to-door salesperson to display the Door-to-Door sales permit on their person when conducting business.

The permit is valid for 15-day periods and will have the salespersons, name, photo identification and other pertinent information. Peddlers, solicitors or transient merchants shall not solicit within the City after 8:00 pm and prior to 10:00 am.

Exemptions for the permit requirement are charitable, religious or nonprofit organizations that have received exempt status under the IRS 501(c)(3). Organizations that have 501(c)(3) status are still required to file a license application with the city, under the existing business license code. Candidates for political office and other political entities campaigning on behalf of ballot issues or other political issues are exempt from the provisions of the code.

If you experience a problem with a peddler, solicitor, or transient merchant, or suspect they are operating without a door-to-door sales permit, please call the police dispatch at 206.296.3311 or 911

Fingerprinting for jobs, background checks and concealed weapon permits for Newcastle residents can be done at the Sheriff's Office Maple Valley Precinct, or the King County Courthouse.

Maple Valley Precinct (Pct. 3)
22300 SE 231st
Maple Valley , Washington
Phone 206.296.3883 (Must call to make an appt.)

King County Courthouse
516 Third Avenue, Room W-150
Seattle, Washington
Phone 206.296.4190
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 4:30pm (excluding holidays, no appt. necessary.)

An identity thief is someone who steals your checks, your social security number, or other personal identification, then uses your information to obtain credit in your name or to commit a crime. We hope you never find you've been the victim of an identity thief and take the necessary steps to help reduce the chance of someone stealing your identity. Most identity thieves get your information by stealing a purse or wallet, or by stealing checks or credit card information out of your mail.

Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim

• Promptly remove your mail after it has been delivered, or get a locking mailbox approved by the postal service. 
• Don't put outgoing mail in your mailbox, take it to a collection box or your local post office.
• Don't have your checks mailed to you, pick them up at the bank.
• Ask that your name be removed from the pre-approved credit card list, call 888-567-8688. This will reduce the amount of credit card applications sent to you.
• Don't carry your social security card with you and only give the number out when necessary.
• Shred charge receipts, credit card information, bank checks and statements, expired credit cards and other statements with personal information.
• Identity thieves sometimes pose as a business, bank, government agency or charity to get you to reveal personal information. Never give your credit card number, bank account information, or other personal information to anyone calling you.
• Make copies of the front and back of all credit cards and other pertinent information in your wallet, or purse in case it is lost or stolen.
• Pay attention to what time of the month your bills arrive. If they don't arrive on time, call your creditor and check on the status of your account.
• Never order from an unsecured server on the internet. Never give personal information that is solicited on line, if the organization already does business with you, then they already have your information.
• Order your credit information from the three major credit bureaus each year and make sure the information is correct.

If you do become a victim of identity theft, then report the crime to the police or sheriff in the area where you live.
Here are some additional resources to obtain information on identity theft.

Federal Trade Commission
website: http://www.ftc.gov  
identity theft hotline: 1.877.IDTHEFT

Washington State Attorney General's Office
website: http://www.wa.gov/ago  (detailed information about ID theft)
phone: 1.800.551.4636

Social Security Administration
website: oig.hotline@ssa.gov  
fraud hotline 1.800.269.027

U.S. Postal Service
website: http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors  

Department of Motor Vehicles
website: http://www.wa.gov/dol  
phone: 360.664.8885

Credit Reporting Agencies

Equifax:
website: http://www.equifax.com  
order credit report: 1.800.685.1111
report fraud: 1.800.525.6285

Experian:
website: http://www.experian.com  
order credit report: 1.888.EXPERIAN
report fraud: 1.888.EXPERIAN

TransUnion:
website: http://www.transunion.com
order credit report: 1.800.888.4213
report fraud: 1.800.680.7289

Due to the expense and volume of requests for the Newcastle Police patch we are unable to give trade patches. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but it is necessary for the police department to be careful with its limited resources.

By law, convicted sex offenders must register with the county sheriff's office in the county in which they reside. If an offender resides within the city limits of Newcastle, the King County Sheriff's Office contacts the Newcastle Police Department. Sex offenders living in Newcastle are monitored by Detectives in the Sheriff 's Office Special Assault Unit and the Newcastle Police.

What are the different sex offender levels and what do they mean?

Level 1
The vast majority of registered sex offenders are classified as Level 1 offenders. They are considered at low risk to re-offend

Level 2
Level 2 offenders have a moderate to risk of re-offending. They generally have more than one victim and the abuse may be long term. These offenders usually groom their victim and may use threats to commit their crimes. These crimes may be predatory with the offender using a position of trust to commit their crimes. Typically these individuals do not appreciate the damage they have done to their victims.

Level 3
Level 3 offenders are considered to have a high risk to re-offend. They usually have one or more victims and may have committed prior crimes of violence. They may not know their victim(s). The crime may show a manifest cruelty to the victim(s) and these offenders usually deny or minimize the crime. These offenders commonly have clear indications of a personality disorder.

The following are the registered sex offenders living within the City of Newcastle, updated March 2008.

Level-1: 7 registered in Newcastle.
Level-2: 0 registered in Newcastle.
Level-3: 0 registered in Newcastle.

The State of Washington has strict laws that govern the information that can be disclosed about registered sex offenders. In accordance with these laws the King County Sheriff's Office provides name, date of birth, physical description and address approximations for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.

To find out more information about registered sex offenders you can visit the Sheriff's Office web site at www.metrokc.gov/sheriff

2008 Crime Reports
First Quarter [ 138 KB | PDF]
Second Quarter [ 138 KB | PDF]
Third Quarter [ 138 KB | PDF]
Fourth Quarter [ 138 KB | PDF]

2007 Crime Reports
First Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Second Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Third Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Fourth Quarter [ 165 KB | PDF]
Annual [ 354 KB | PDF]

2006 Crime Reports
First Quarter [ 148 KB | PDF]
Second Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Third Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Fourth Quarter [ 151 KB | PDF]
Annual [ 148 KB | PDF]

The Sheriff's Office publishes quarterly and annual statistical crime reports for unincorporated King County, the cities that contract for our services, the Muckleshoot Tribe, and King County Metro Transit. To view older reports, please visit the statistical reports archives.