Meridian's retail corridor saw unusual Saturday activity
Happy Sunday, Bellingham!
While most of us were wrapping up holiday shopping or catching the Kraken game, Bellingham's retail corridors told a different Saturday story. The 1200 block of East Sunset Drive—home to our big-box stores—logged three separate incidents yesterday, from shoplifting to evening paperwork. It's a reminder that December's retail rush brings its own particular rhythms to our city, especially along the Meridian corridor where parking lots stay full and security stays busy.
At a Glance
What stands out from yesterday isn't the total count—21 incidents is fairly typical for a December Saturday—but rather the concentration along specific corridors. Meridian's retail district and Lettered Streets' service zone absorbed over half of all activity, while traditionally busy neighborhoods like Sunnyland and Fairhaven stayed remarkably quiet.
As we head into another shopping Sunday, expect similar patterns today: increased activity around major retail areas during peak hours, welfare checks scattered throughout the day, and the possibility of impaired driving incidents as evening gatherings wind down. Keep an eye on those parking lots—yesterday's theft reports all happened during business hours.
Category Breakdown
Yesterday's mix leaned heavily toward welfare checks and investigations—nearly half of all calls. This pattern suggests our first responders spent much of their Saturday checking on vulnerable residents and following up on ongoing situations, rather than responding to immediate threats.
The theft reports clustered predictably around Meridian's retail zone during shopping hours, while welfare checks scattered across neighborhoods from Cordata to Lettered Streets. Two DUI arrests bookended the day—one just after midnight on Lakeway, another at 10:23 PM on Old Fairhaven Parkway.
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Timeline Analysis
Saturday followed an unusual rhythm: a midnight surge, morning quiet, then scattered activity from late morning through evening.
The day started with three incidents in the first hour after midnight, then went nearly silent until 6 AM. Activity picked up around 11 AM and stayed relatively steady through the afternoon, with a notable cluster between 3 and 5 PM when three incidents occurred. Evening hours saw sporadic calls, including that late-night DUI arrest at 10:23 PM.
Intel Briefs
Retail Corridor Alert
The 1200 block of E Sunset Drive saw multiple theft-related incidents yesterday between 11:30 AM and 2:20 PM. If you're shopping today, stay alert in parking lots and secure your vehicles.
Late Night Travel Advisory
Both DUI arrests yesterday occurred on major thoroughfares—Lakeway and Old Fairhaven Parkway. Consider ride-sharing for tonight's holiday gatherings, especially if traveling these corridors.
Quiet Neighborhood Watch
Sunnyland, Edgemoor, Columbia, and Fairhaven each logged just one incident yesterday. These typically active areas might see increased activity today as patterns normalize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's in the "Other" category?
The "Other" category includes 2 incidents that don't fit into our main categories. Here's the breakdown:
Where does this data come from?
All incident data is sourced directly from the official Bellingham Police Department Daily Activity Log. We aggregate and analyze this public information to provide community insights. Our data is updated daily and reflects only what the department publicly reports.