What Happened in Bellingham on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 42 incidents, up 56% from 27 the day before. 0 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 17 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 13 of 42 reports (31% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 10 incidents.
Overall activity was 27% above the 30-day average of 33 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 13 incidents (31% of total), followed by Disorder with 7 and Theft & Burglary with 5.
Trending: Fraud & Financial is up 500% over the past 7 days (6 incidents this week vs 1 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's in “Administrative”?
Overview
Violent Crime
0 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 0% of all incidents. This is down 100% from the prior day.
No violent incidents were reported on this date.
Arrests
Bellingham police made 17 arrests yesterday, involving 15 individuals.
Arrests accounted for 40% of all incidents. Of the 17 arrests, 4 were Theft & Burglary, 3 were Administrative, and 3 were Traffic & Vehicles. This is up 240% from the 5 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:56 | FALSE STATEMENT OR REPORTING | Fraud & Financial | Happy Valley |
| 06:18 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Downtown |
| 07:40 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 09:22 | TRESPASS | Disorder | Downtown |
| 09:25 | TRESPASS | Disorder | Downtown |
| 09:44 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | York |
| 12:05 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 12:24 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Sunnyland |
| 12:45 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 12:45 | DRUGS - INVESTIGATION | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 13:20 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | Birchwood |
| 14:20 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 14:22 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 17:12 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Puget |
| 20:25 | INDECENT EXPOSURE | Sex Offenses | Lettered Streets |
| 22:23 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 22:32 | DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 18 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 10 incidents, followed by Meridian with 7 and Lettered Streets with 5.
2 specific locations have appeared in the top 10 most active blocks for 4 or more of the last 7 days, including 500 Block of Grand Ave (5 of 7 days).
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 12 PM – 1 PM with 7 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 5am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 5 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 12, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 18, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 7. Afternoon was the busiest period overall.
Tuesdays in Bellingham typically average 35 incidents. Yesterday's total of 42 is 7 above that 8-week average (21% higher).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 34.3 incidents per day, above the 30-day average of 33.2 — suggesting a busier-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
This Week Is Pacing Higher Than Last
Through Tuesday (2 days), this week has recorded 69 incidents — 35% more than the 51 reported at the same point last week. If the pace holds, the week could finish well above last week’s total.
Downtown: Most Active for 4 Straight Days
Downtown has been the most active neighborhood for 4 consecutive days. Today it logged 10 incidents (24% of the city total).
Fraud & Financial Up 500% This Week
Fraud & Financial incidents have risen sharply: 6 in the past 7 days compared to 1 the prior 7 days — a 500% increase.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 42 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. Published Wednesday, March 18th, 2026.
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What Happened in Bellingham on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 42 incidents, up 56% from 27 the day before. 0 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 17 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 13 of 42 reports (31% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 10 incidents.
Overall activity was 27% above the 30-day average of 33 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 13 incidents (31% of total), followed by Disorder with 7 and Theft & Burglary with 5.
Trending: Fraud & Financial is up 500% over the past 7 days (6 incidents this week vs 1 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's in “Administrative”?
Overview
Violent Crime
0 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 0% of all incidents. This is down 100% from the prior day.
No violent incidents were reported on this date.
Arrests
Bellingham police made 17 arrests yesterday, involving 15 individuals.
Arrests accounted for 40% of all incidents. Of the 17 arrests, 4 were Theft & Burglary, 3 were Administrative, and 3 were Traffic & Vehicles. This is up 240% from the 5 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:56 | FALSE STATEMENT OR REPORTING | Fraud & Financial | Happy Valley |
| 06:18 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Downtown |
| 07:40 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 09:22 | TRESPASS | Disorder | Downtown |
| 09:25 | TRESPASS | Disorder | Downtown |
| 09:44 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | York |
| 12:05 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 12:24 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Sunnyland |
| 12:45 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 12:45 | DRUGS - INVESTIGATION | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 13:20 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | Birchwood |
| 14:20 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 14:22 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 17:12 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Puget |
| 20:25 | INDECENT EXPOSURE | Sex Offenses | Lettered Streets |
| 22:23 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 22:32 | DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 18 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 10 incidents, followed by Meridian with 7 and Lettered Streets with 5.
2 specific locations have appeared in the top 10 most active blocks for 4 or more of the last 7 days, including 500 Block of Grand Ave (5 of 7 days).
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 12 PM – 1 PM with 7 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 5am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 5 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 12, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 18, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 7. Afternoon was the busiest period overall.
Tuesdays in Bellingham typically average 35 incidents. Yesterday's total of 42 is 7 above that 8-week average (21% higher).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 34.3 incidents per day, above the 30-day average of 33.2 — suggesting a busier-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
This Week Is Pacing Higher Than Last
Through Tuesday (2 days), this week has recorded 69 incidents — 35% more than the 51 reported at the same point last week. If the pace holds, the week could finish well above last week’s total.
Downtown: Most Active for 4 Straight Days
Downtown has been the most active neighborhood for 4 consecutive days. Today it logged 10 incidents (24% of the city total).
Fraud & Financial Up 500% This Week
Fraud & Financial incidents have risen sharply: 6 in the past 7 days compared to 1 the prior 7 days — a 500% increase.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 42 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. Published Wednesday, March 18th, 2026.
Get the daily briefing
Free, every morning.