Crime definitely doesn’t pay if you’re clumsy, a 20-year-old Seattle man learned in Edmonds Wednesday.

Edmonds police and Fire District 1 medics were called to the 7-11 store on Highway 99 and 238th Street Southwest at 10:14 a.m. after the man had arrived at the store with a serious laceration on his right forearm that was bleeding profusely. Moment later, other available Edmonds police officers were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance at a nearby Highway 99 motel, where the manager discovered blood just outside a room.

“Officers arriving at the motel discovered an apparent burglary,” Edmonds police spokesman Sgt. Mike Blackburn said. “Glass had been shattered from a window, and officers could see a chair just inside that was broken on the floor. Also evident was a significant amount of what appeared to be fresh blood.”

Assisted by a Lynnwood Police K-9 unit, officers were able to track from the scene of the burglary directly to the bleeding man at the convenience store. Along the way, Lynnwood Police Dog Vader located valuable property hidden in the bushes that was later determined to be stolen from the motel room.

“Investigating officers determined that the suspect broke out the window in an effort to commit burglary. As he entered the motel room through the shattered window, the man stepped on a chair just inside.” The chair apparently collapsed “beneath his considerable weight,” causing him to fall back against the broken window glass and cutting his arm, Blackburn said.

Despite the serious injury, which later required hospital treatment, the suspect managed to steal items and flee the scene — until he realized he needed medical help, Blackburn said.

The suspect was arrested for burglary and later booked at the Snohomish County Jail.  All property stolen during the crime was recovered by police.