West Seattle, Washington
19 Thursday
ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: In the spirit of Block Watch, you might call this Bark Watch. Seattle Police Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner sent this announcement that they are launching a new program called Paws on Patrol:
You can help prevent crime while you are walking your dog!
Paws on Patrol encourages dog walkers to serve as extra eyes and ears for the Seattle Police Department.
This program trains pet owners to prevent crime, as well as recognize and report suspicious activity.
Get a free SPD Paws on Patrol dog tag when you join (while supplies last)!
The SW Precinct will be hosting the Paws on Patrol launch event on Saturday, September 21st at 10 am.
So if you are interested – save the date!
ADDED FRIDAY: A clarification from CPC Danner: “I have received a lot of inquiries about Paws on Patrol (yay!). Thank you everyone for your interest! Just wanted to clarify- at this time there is no link to join, please plan to attend the launch event on Saturday, September 21st, to join! I will send out more details as we get closer to the event!” This will be the first precinct to test the program, by the way. And yes, you AND your dog will be welcome at the September 21st meeting.
(WSB photo)
2:38 PM: Thanks for the tip about that big Seattle Police response near High Point Community Center. We subsequently went over to find out what’s happening. Police say the white car is stolen and they’ve taken one person into custody. That person’s being checked for possible injuries because the car was involved in a collision (our crew says it has extensive rear-end damage). A K9 team is on the way to help search for evidence after, according to a radio exchange, “a magazine” was reportedly found in the car.
2:45 PM: Seattle Parks just tweeted that HPCC is in lockdown because of this.
3:42 PM: Parks says the lockdown is over.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: A few more details, and a photo of the magazine, from SPD:
A parking enforcement officer was on patrol at 35 Avenue (SW) and SW Morgan Street at 2 PM when they spotted an occupied stolen vehicle parked nearby.
As patrol officers flooded the area, the vehicle’s occupant piloted the white Jetta out of the area, nearly striking a firetruck and running a stop sign in the process. The driver continued to speed away until he lost control and rolled the vehicle down a hill.
Police took the man into custody and following a search of the car recovered a handgun magazine. A K-9 was brought in to search for a firearm but none was located.
Officers booked the man into King County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and firearms violation because he is a convicted felon and prevented from having a handgun magazine.
10:11 AM: That’s Clayton‘s 2005 Honda Rebel motorcycle, stolen last night from the 9600 block of 17th SW. He emailed us in hopes you can “keep a lookout” for it. If you see it, call 911. P.S. Plate = 4F4235.
ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: Clayton says his motorcycle was spotted in the 10300 block of 24th Ave SW.
ADDED FRIDAY: As Clayton noted in a comment, he has his bike back!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:48 AM SUNDAY: An SDOT crew is being summoned for a cleanup on westbound Admiral Way near 37th SW for debris from a crash. Radio communication indicated a driver went into a yard and then left the scene on foot; police reportedly caught up with a suspect nearby, at 39th and Admiral.
UPDATE, MONDAY NIGHT: According to online records, the 20-year-old driver is under investigation for DUI and criminal hit-run.
Two stolen cars reported by readers: A Kia Spectra (added: tan color), plate AOZ1767, taken near Westwood Village on Friday afternoon, and a white Audi Q5 taken overnight from 47th/College (added: plate AXZ3291). If you see either, call 911.
From Shay near 60th/Stevens:
Wanted to report that we’ve had two things stolen from our apartment garages (fully locked unless you have a key or garage door opener to enter/someone leaves the garage open…). First happened at some point Monday night (noticed Tuesday morning) and they stole a $500 amplifier. (Wednesday) afternoon, we noticed that my husband’s $4,000 mountain bike (which was mounted and locked/chained up) was stolen, which we think happened at some point (Tuesday) night. Our assumption is that the people who stole the amplifier came back with a chain cutter/saw and stole the bike.
We’ve reported the above for the police, but wanted others to be aware that theft seems to be on the rise. Make sure your garage doors shut when you leave & be on high alert.
Thanks for the texted tip about multiple locker-room thefts at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) on Tuesday. One of the victims reports:
At least half a dozen lockers (Men’s) were broken into between 10:45-11:15 am at the West Seattle YMCA. Only wallets were stolen. Cell phones and other valuables were not taken. This was discovered rather quickly and most of us were able to cancel or put a hold on our cards. Cards were attempted to (be used) at QFC and Safeway near Alaska Junction as well as the Walgreens and gas station near 35th & Morgan.
The thefts were all included in one police report, which we requested and obtained this afternoon. It says the police have obtained security video showing five “males” (no further description) arriving outside the Y in a “white 4-door sedan.” They went into the Y at 10:56 am. Two started talking to desk staff; the other three walked toward the locker room. Less than 15 minutes later, all five left. There were at least six victims; police obtained some broken-lock fragments as evidence. Some of the victims were already getting “fraudulent activity” alerts from their banks/credit-card companies, so police followed a trail including, as mentioned above, the 35th/Morgan gas station and Walgreens. The suspects tried to buy $500 gift cards at the latter, the police report says, but were unsuccessful. We also asked Y executive director Shalimar Gonzales about the thefts; she says they’re working with police and “in the meantime have increased staff visibility in those spaces and added signage. We’re encouraging everyone to keep valuables at home or use our lockers in the cardio center.”
That’s a screenshot of one of the thieves who stole three surveillance cameras from West Seattle Christian Church in The Junction between 3 am and 6 am on July 25th. WSCC’s Worth Wheeler tells WSB, “From what we can tell there were 2 to 3 individuals involved and they went to quite a lot of effort to removed the cameras, even using a long bamboo pole, standing on our a-frame signs, and bringing one of those extendable gripping devices with a grabbing claw at the end.” Here are video clips showing some of their activity including the camera thefts:
Police have been notified; we don’t have a case # yet.\
Julia hopes you can help find her stolen car:
My ’97 Subaru Legacy wagon (black with large dent in back left bumper, plate #AHG5464) was stolen from in front of our house (8600 block of 16th Ave SW) overnight. This is the second time this car has been stolen from this exact location. I had the “Club” on the steering wheel and the car was locked. I have reported this info to SPD.
If you see it, call 911.
Thanks to the texter who sent the photo and tip: For at least the third time in less than two months, someone has broken windows at the West Seattle Junction KeyBank. (Our previous reports are here and here.) We don’t know if police have apprehended anyone – we’ll have to check on that later this morning – but radio communication indicated arrangements were being made to get the windows boarded up.
That’s security video from the backyard of Matt‘s home near Fauntleroy/Thistle, across from Lincoln Park. He hasn’t been able to check yet for any other damage but is sharing this so others will be on the lookout. The intruder’s been reported to police; we don’t have the report number yet but will add when we do, in case you have a tip to report.
One week ago, we reported on a burglary at the Senior Center of West Seattle. While police continue to investigate, the nonprofit center has to deal with the costly aftermath – stolen items, damage repair. So the philanthropy group Impact West Seattle is coordinating a community fundraising drive to help. Rachel Lazar explains, “They have been such a supportive partner of Impact West Seattle, hosting our quarterly giving meetings. And we have learned so much about the incredible programs they offer as they are truly a gem in our community.” You can donate by going here!
One reader report today, with security video. I’s from Michael: “On Friday morning, 0500 hrs, July 26th, my helmet and gloves were stolen from my motorcycle. It was taken from our covered carport in our condo building (in the 4100 block of) Chilberg Ave. SW.” (We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.)
12:09 AM: Multiple 911 calls about gunfire sent police to 9th SW/SW Henderson, just west of Westcrest Park, and officers have reported via radio that they’ve found shell casings south of the intersection. No injuries reported so far, and also no description of suspect(s).
12:29 AM: Unrelated so far as we know, but here’s another call that’s drawn a police response of note: A resident in the Aura Apartments (35th SW just south of Avalon) reported someone broke into their apartment and ran out, westbound, with a laptop. Police are searching the area, with a K0 unit dispatched too.
The photo and report are from David:
Stolen between 11 pm and 11 am from the corner of Willow and 39th in Gatewood. 1992 Toyota Pickup regular cab with white canopy. License C30416C.
If you see it, call 911.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:20 AM: Police have closed northbound 16th SW at Brandon while investigating what was initially described via radio communication as a robbery or carjacking attempt. The would-be robbers are reported to have fired into the air as they fled; police found at least one shell casing in the street. A K-9 team is helping search right now. No further details but we’ll follow up.
ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: We obtained the police report; this was classified as an armed robbery. The three victims told police they had been parked on 16th SW when the robbers walked up to the passenger side of the car and said, “This is a robbery, give us all your s–t! Get out of the car!”P Police say the victims thought that the two robbers – who appeared to be juveniles – were joking until one pulled out a handgun and pointed it at them. The robbers then grabbed a victim’s backpack. The unarmed robber jumped into the car at one point. Eventually after a struggle over the backpack, the two robbers ran away. The one with the gun fired a shot in the air first; nobody was hit. Police searched but didn’t find them.
(Screen capture from security video)
Early today we made a periodic check of the files in court cases we’ve been following. One discovery of note: An arrest warrant for Gabriel C. Putnam, sought and granted just yesterday. Putnam is the 39-year-old man arrested and charged after this video-recorded Beach Drive burglary attempt last month. Police found him on another Beach Drive property further south, and also found a knife that appeared to be the one shown in the video. As we reported two weeks ago, he was released from jail into the CCAP program, which requires daily check-ins. Court documents say he stopped making those check-ins last week, so an arrest warrant was issued. If he is found and arrested, the warrant sets bail at $25,000.
TUESDAY: Thanks for the tip. A texter reported a “major police presence” at Tony’s Market (35th/Barton) so we went over to check. The police had just left as we arrived, but proprietor Joey told us it was a break-in attempt. He interrupted the would-be burglars; they took off, and he called 911. We’ll be checking tomorrow on the potential security video (and the police report).
ADDED WEDNESDAY: No updates. We did talk again with Joey, who explained that he happened to have eyes on his business while pumping gas at the 7-11 across the street when he saw the break-in attempt.
Recognize that burglar? The nonprofit Senior Center of West Seattle says he broke into the center’s Stop ‘n’ Shop Thrift Shop around 3:30 am Sunday. Among other things, the burglar stole “some expensive items” that were being researched. They observed that the burglar “seemed to know his way around the center.” If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 19-268996.
7:24 PM: Just in from an Arbor Heights resident – this clip showing a package thief in a “Just Do It” T-shirt. The victim reports:
We had a few packages stolen from our porch today, and this dude seemed to be making the rounds (I’m assuming because a lot of Prime Day stuff was getting delivered).
If it’s helpful to anyone, here is the video from my doorbell … it seems like others have had the same people steal from them today as well.
The resident also sent this clip from a neighbor’s camera showing a different thief but apparently the same vehicle. We’ll add the police-report number when available. This kind of incident usually can be reported online – police continue to reiterate that it’s really important for everything to be reported.
11:59 PM UPDATE: Police report # is 19-264203.
We are now less than three weeks from Night Out 2019, a night to gather with your neighbors and celebrate community while reflecting on safety. Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner is reminding you to register your block (building) party – a requirement if you plan to close a street (non-arterials only), but appreciated even if you don’t. August 6th is the night; deadline for registration is August 4th. (And if you wouldn’t mind us stopping by to photograph your party, email us before Night Out – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!)
ORIGINAL REPORT: That’s Olivia‘s car, and she is hoping you will help watch for it: “My car was stolen last night between the hours of 11:00 pm and 6:00 am this morning. It is a 2000 Honda Civic four-door in Plum Pearl (dark purple). No bumper stickers or cosmetic damage.” It was stolen on the county side of 25th/Roxbury so a report is on file with the King County Sheriff’s Office; call 911 if you see it.
ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: Update from Olivia – “SPD found my car on the 9400 block of 15th Ave SW and I was able to drive it away.”
Bryan sent that photo Saturday night but we had just missed police by the time we got there, so we pursued followup information today: SPD confirms gunfire on 16th SW near SW Holden around 8 pm Saturday. Multiple calls came in to 911 from people who heard it; one witness reported seeing someone in a vehicle firing a gun “into the air.” No one was hit/injured and no property damage was found, but officers did find shell casings. One area resident told us police were also canvassing the neighborhood to see if anyone had security video of the incident.
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