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The Ballad of the Nyeker Bandits from Washington

On the island, Colton stole a single-engine Cessna 182 belonging to Seattle radio broadcaster KZOK-FM, Bob Rivers, from his hangar, on November 12, 2008. Despite having no experience flying aircraft, he managed to fly the small plane 300 miles and land on Yakama Indian Reservation, South Yakima.

Allegedly, Colton learned to fly self-taught through aircraft manuals and because of his hobby of playing game his favorite from childhood to hours, Microsoft Flight Simulator. After his success, Colton stole several cars. He continued to move places, such as to Reno, Sacramento, and East Washington.

He kept cat and mouse with the police and returned to Camano Island in May 2009. Early on June 19, 2009, Colton was determined to break into a patrol car parked in front of a policeman’s house. He stole police equipment, cell phones, rifles and some ammunition. That added to the wrath of Island County Sheriff’s Department officers.

On September 11, 2009, Colton stole another Cirrus SR22 at San Juan Public Airport bound for Orcas Island. On the island, Colton steals a boat yacht and sailed for Point Roberts on the Tsawwassen Peninsula. The path of the theft then stretched across British Columbia, Canada, to Bonner Ferry in North Idaho.

On the Bonner Ferry, Colton stole again and took away a Cessna 182 plane. The plan was for him to return to Camano Island. However, after only 260 miles of flying, the plane ran out of fuel and made an emergency landing at Granite Falls, Snohomish County. The police find Colton’s footprints. He again stole Cirrus SR22 at Anacortes Regional Airport on 10 February 2010 and flew to Orcas Island.

The next day, he broke into a Homegrown Grocery store and took $1,000 in cash. In a frenzy, Colton chalked up his footprints on the shop floor and scrawled a mocking “C-Yes” message. Finally the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stepped in to hunt down the 19-year-old youth. The FBI is giving a $10,000 reward to anyone who provides information on their whereabouts.

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