Teen who escaped from halfway house spotted on Camano Island

Island County sheriff's deputies are searching for teen who escaped from a Renton halfway house earlier this year in connection with a recent string of Camano Island burglaries.

Authorities say they tried to stop Colton Harris-Moore, 17, as he was speeding north on South Camano Drive around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. The teen jumped out of the stolen car while was it was still moving and managed to escape. The vehicle came to a stop after hitting a trash bin, deputies said.

Items found in the car included stolen property from recent burglaries on Camano Island. The teen could be connected with a string of break-ins over the past three months, said Island County sheriff's Detective Ed Wallace.

Harris said they have investigated Harris-Moore for breaking into houses and stealing cars for several years. Harris-Moore's record includes convictions for two burglaries at his former middle school and break-ins in Camano Island homes.

The teen pleaded guilty to three counts of residential burglary in 2007. He was sent to a halfway house in Renton to serve out his time but escaped earlier this year.

Deputies are asking Camano Island residents to keep their cars locked and call 911 if they see Harris-Moore.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com