11:50 AM: Late last night, we published this Crime Watch report featuring a look at the West Seattle auto thefts shown on the SPD crime-reports map for the preceding week. This morning, another one to add, reported by Dianna:

My fiance’s white 1991 Acura Integra, 2-door hatchback, was stolen sometime either Friday evening after 8 pm or Saturday on Hill Street (near the intersection of Hill St. & Ferry Ave.), right across from the Admiral Congregational Church. His license plate is 641XDA. His car was parked right at the triangle park, where the temporary fire station used to be.

If you see, or have seen it, please call 911 – and then consider commenting below.

2:21 PM: Dianna just sent word that her fiance’s car was found nearby, with “items stolen from the car (red tool box with random craftsman wrenches and tools).”

West Seattle Crime Watch starts tonight with a reader report:

HIT-RUN: Wendy reports, “Our car was hit last night sometime between 10 pm and 7 am, the car was parked across from Ercolini Park. The driver took out our side mirror. Sharing this in case someone saw something. A police report was filed.” It happened on 48th SW, west of the park.

CAR THEFTS: Another of our periodic category checks from the SPD crime-report map – vehicle thefts reported in the past ~week:

The live map is not embeddable, but if you go there and sort for vehicle theft, you’ll find the map above, with these reports from north to south:

Tuesday night, 2600 block 39th SW
Wednesday night, 3200 block Avalon Way
Friday night, 3600 block SW Brandon
Wednesday night, 5900 block 37th SW
Last Friday night (reported Saturday 3/26), 6300 block 42nd SW
Sunday afternoon, 3200 block SW Morgan
Sunday night, 7300 block 29th SW
Last Saturday night (reported Sunday), 2400 block SW Holden
Monday night, 8400 block 6th SW
Friday night, 8800 block 8th SW

No specifics (car description, etc.) are included in what’s mapped; while SPD still tweets vehicle thefts at @getyourcarback, they still don’t include any location or incident-number information (we’ve asked). That’s why we appreciate reader reports so we can publish complete info (editor@westseattleblog.com or text 206-293-6302) – we did get and publish this one for the Friday night theft at Westcrest. If you see what you think might be a stolen vehicle, call 911.

(WSB photo – Jacob Kokko, defense lawyer, prosecutor in court)

1:10 PM: As first reported here last week, serial arsonist Jacob Kokko has pleaded guilty to three charges – one, reduced as part of a plea bargain – and is being sentenced today. We’re in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell and will chronicle the hearing live as it happens.

Kokko has been in jail since his arrest almost five months ago. The recommended sentence is for the time he has served – which is almost as long as the maximum possible penalty, given that he has no criminal record.

His lawyer told the judge, “He’s a good kid, you’re not going to see him again … He was crying for help, and he’s going to get the help that he needs.” His lawyer says Kokko will be responsible for getting that help.

He spoke briefly at the judge’s invitation and said this was a “turning point” in his life and that he is aware that this will affect the rest of his life. (We have his full statement on video and will add it when back at headquarters.) He said he would be going back to college, where he has two years’ credit and was majoring in psychology.

Judge Ramsdell is going along with the recommended sentencing so far, a suspended year – provided he stays out of trouble – in jail, plus as-yet-undetermined restitution, 50 hours of community service, and credit for jail time served otherwise (147 days total), meaning he will be going free shortly.

While details of the crimes were not discussed here in court, documents indicated Kokko, 22, had acknowledged setting four fires – outside the Senior Center and Hamm Building in The Junction on Halloween night, outside a house on his block in High Point earlier, and the 35th/Morgan bus-stop fire caught on the surveillance video that led to his arrest – but denied involvement in the others that were suspected to be part of the same spree.

1:26 PM: No one else has spoken at the hearing other than Kokko, the lawyers, and judge – no victims, no family members – and it’s now over (after many mostly silent moments of paperwork-signing), with the judge saying “Good luck to you, sir” and a deputy re-handcuffing Kokko to return to jail (processing for release usually takes at least a few hours).

Three reports in tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

CHURCH BURGLARY: Thanks for the tips. Another non-residential Junction break-in – what was on the Tweets by Beat log as a “commercial burglary” reported Tuesday morning in the 4100 block of 42nd SW was a break-in at Holy Rosary Church, according to police report details we were finally able to obtain today. The report says someone got in through a window and stole items including cash and credit cards, but left behind “evidence” that police have collected and are following up on.

TIRE SLASHING: John reports from North Delridge:

I just want to let you know that several cars including one of my own had their tires cut last night. All the cars were parked on 28th Ave SW across the street from The Dragonfly Pavilion Park Between Yancy and Nevada. I have heard this is a growing problem in West Seattle.

PROWLER ON VIDEO: From the Shorewood/Arbor Heights area:

I wanted to send you a video I caught (Tuesday) at my house of a prowler. We had numerous packages stolen last week and set up this camera.

Nothing was stolen (so far as) we can tell.

The area the man is seen walking into, and emerging from, leads to and from the house’s side yard and backyard. A police report is filed – #2016-108242 – if you have any information.

Thanks for the tips and reports – 206-293-6302 text/voice if urgent, editor@westseattleblog.com if not – as long as you have already called 911/SPD!

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

SEEN THIS STOLEN CAR? Susumu e-mailed Tuesday to say his silver 2-door 1997 Honda Civic stolen from the apartment parking lot at 6901 Delridge late March 19 or early March 20, plate AYL1636, is still missing. Call 911 if you see it.

SHOPLIFTING CASE #1: Two shoplifting suspects who police say had fled the RiteAid store south of The Junction wound up crashing at 41st and Brandon Tuesday evening.

At least one person was in custody – we had to break away from the scene to go to the 15th/Henderson crash so that’s all we know so far.

SHOPLIFTING CASE #2: Mike from Sound Advice (the Verizon store in The Junction) reports two iPhones were shoplifted on Tuesday while the store was full of customers. The two shoplifters were caught on HD video that is already in police hands, he says.

HIT-RUN: Shelly sent word of this last night:

Everyone keep a lookout for a red/maroon sedan with substantial front end damage. Saturday at about 6 am, it bumped into my neighbors cars, then smashed into my car and took off. They hit my car so hard it jumped the curb and caused substantial damage. The police have pieces of their car as well as descriptions of the people/car, but any leads would be super helpful. This happened on 30th between Myrtle and Othello.

Thanks for the tips and reports – 206-293-6302 text/voice if urgent, editor@westseattleblog.com if not – as long as you have already called 911/SPD!

Today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with a message to (and picture of) a toy thief:

TOYS TAKEN: The message accompanying that photo:

To the fine gentleman in the tan Kia Sorrento who stole all of my kids’ toys from my front porch on Atlas Place at 11:30 am on Sunday morning: Just a quick suggestion before you play with the red fire truck in particular – give it a good scrubbing. My neighbor’s pomeranian recently mistook it for a fire hydrant.”

ARE THESE YOURS? Sarah‘s car was prowled – and somebody else’s stuff was left behind:

Hi, I came home last night around midnight and found my car door open, with someone else’s black purse and a pair of shoes in the front seat. I assume I interrupted a car prowler who ran off when my uber pulled up. I’d like to try returning the items to their owners, I live on 24th and Cloverdale and assume they came from nearby.

Missing a purse and/or shoes? Let us know.

Also over the weekend:

7-11 ROBBED: Another armed robbery at the South Delridge 7-11. We just talked with SPD to get a few more details, after seeing it on the Tweets by Beat log. It happened around quarter till midnight on Saturday night; the clerk at the store was held up by a man and woman with a gun. They made off with cash and cigarettes. A K-9 team helped officers search but they didn’t find the robbers.

And a followup:

STOLEN CAR FOUND: A comment on our Friday report about a car theft in The Triangle says it was found over the weekend in Federal Way.

We hope you *never* have anything to share for Crime Watch – but if something does happen, once you have reported it to police (911 if it just happened or is happening now), please let us know so we can keep your neighbors all around the peninsula informed – police-report/scanner info is not as readily available as you’d think so you’re the best source – 206-293-6302, text/voice 24/7, or editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports today:

CAR STOLEN FROM THE GROVE: The photos above and below are from The Grove/West Seattle Inn, where the general manager’s vehicle was stolen around 6:45 this morning.

The missing vehicle is a “white ’89 Toyota 4Runner with gray graphics on the side. There are no major modifications or noticeable body damage. The license plate is Washington State and reads (B31-606V). The Police have been contacted and have made a report.” If you have any information about the whereabouts or knowledge of a possible suspect please call 911, and GM John at 760-709-0321.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AT MIDWIVES’ CLINIC: In addition to the burglaries we listed in last night’s Crime Watch, we’ve heard about one more, from the victims: Taylor at In Tandem Midwifery, 4522 44th SW, e-mailed to report: “Someone tried to break into our office the night before last. … Our incident occurred at our back door, from inside the secured apartment building. They didn’t get in, which is lucky for us as they would have been terribly disappointed and more likely to cause damage. … We don’t keep an patient data, meds or valuables in the office so we aren’t really sure why we were targeted.”

(Reader photo, courtesy Aaron: October arson outside Senior Center)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After 4 1/2 months in jail, West Seattle serial arsonist Jacob Kokko has pleaded guilty – and could go free as soon as he’s sentenced.

A plea bargain sent him to court on Thursday to admit to three crimes, one a lesser charge than the original ones filed, according to court documents we found during a routine check online early today.

(WSB photo: October arson outside Hamm Building)

Kokko, 22, was arrested last November and charged in connection with three October arsons – two in The Junction, outside the Senior Center and the historic Hamm Building (home to businesses including Easy Street Records, Twilight Gallery, and Alaska Street Tattoo Parlor), and one outside a house on the same block in High Point where he lives.

The charges at the time were second-degree arson (a Class B felony), and second-degree reckless burning and third-degree malicious mischief (both gross misdemeanors). In the plea bargain, the first charge – related to the Senior Center fire – was reduced to first-degree reckless burning (a Class C felony); the other two remained the same.

Kokko, who has no prior criminal record, was arrested after a series of arsons including those fires unnerved West Seattleites for weeks. He has never been charged in the other fires during that same time period – police say he confessed to one fire in which he was not charged, the bus-stop arson on Morgan south of 35th on October 12th (shown on the surveillance video that led to his arrest), but denied any involvement in the October 18th Sylvan Ridge car arsons, the October 19th High Point rental-office waste-bin fire that did more damage in a later flareup, or the October 21st 40th/Morgan recycling-bin fire.

As for the potential penalty:

The recommendation accompanying Kokko’s guilty pleas is for a sentence of “credit for time served” in jail, which will be almost five months by his scheduled sentencing date – that’s longer than the standard “up to 60 days” sentence for someone with no criminal record. Also recommended, a year in jail that will be suspended unless he fails to make it through a year of probation. He would also be recommended for 50 hours of community restitution work and to pay monetary restitution, determined at a future date, to the victims of the four fires to which he has confessed.

The documents give no further hint of a motive; last fall, Kokko was quoted as saying he set the fires because he needed help.

Kokko is scheduled to be sentenced at 1 pm April 1st by King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell.

(WSB photo: Search area on SW Henderson)

12:26 AM: An “assault with weapons” response is headed for 17th and Henderson, where a man is reported to have been stabbed.

12:32 AM: The victim is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. No suspect in custody so far, nor do we have any information on the circumstances.

12:36 AM: Medical radio communications describe the victim as a 35-year-old man with a single stab wound to the upper chest.

1:11 AM: Police are still searching for the attacker at last report – possibly a woman in her 30s.

1:29 AM: Police confirm they’re looking for a female suspect and describe this as a case of domestic violence.

8:09 AM: SPD has just announced that the victim died at Harborview Medical Center. That makes this the first homicide case of the year in West Seattle. Via SPD Blotter, police have these additional details:

On March 25th, at approximately 12:20 am, officers responded to a 911 call of a domestic disturbance in the 9000 block of 17th Avenue SW. When officers arrived, they found the victim in his car parked in the alley suffering from a stab wound to his chest. Seattle Fire Department Medics rushed the victim to Harborview, where he died from his injury.

A witness told investigators that the victim and his girlfriend had been involved in a physical altercation inside their residence prior to the victim being stabbed. The suspect fled before officers arrived.

This is an active and ongoing homicide investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Seattle Police at (206) 233-5000.

The last homicide investigation in West Seattle was a shooting death in Delridge five months ago; an arrest was made but the suspect was released and to date has never been charged. A month before that, a toddler was kicked to death in a Morgan Junction apartment and his father’s girlfriend, Alicia Goemaat, was charged with murder; she remains in jail and her case continues proceeding through the system. That September 2015 homicide case was at the time the first in WS in almost two years, since the still-unsolved New Year’s Eve 2013 shooting death of Stephen Jeffries, Jr.

ADDED 11:03 AM: As noted in comments, the SPD Blotter item has been updated with this:

SPD detectives are seeking any information that could help them locate a woman involved in this morning’s fatal domestic violence incident in Delridge. Police believe Beverly Carr, 35, is six-months pregnant and may have sustained injuries during this morning’s incident. Detectives would like to get her medical attention and obtain her statement about the circumstances surrounding the incident. If you have any information about Carr’s whereabouts, please contact Seattle police at 684-5550 or call 911.

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – we’re looking at burglaries.

GATEWOOD BREAK-IN: A burglary in the 8200 block of California SW on Thursday afternoon is reported to have been associated with this pickup truck:

The witness who reported it says “two young girls” were in the truck and appeared to have cased other houses in the neighborhood before the break-in just after 2:30 pm. If you have any information, the incident number is 16-102310.

WHERE BURGLARS ARE STRIKING: We checked the SPD police-report map to see where else in West Seattle burglaries have been reported this week – this is a screengrab of the map, sorted for burglaries only (it shows many other categories of crime if you look at it unsorted):

North to south, the icons shown correspond with these reported burglaries:
*Saturday afternoon, 2700 block Belvidere
*Monday night, 4400 block 35th SW
*Last Friday morning, 4500 block California SW
*Sunday afternoon, 4800 block Delridge Way
*Last Friday morning, 7100 block Delridge Way
*Tuesday morning, 8400 block 41st SW (reader report here)
*Saturday morning, 8800 block 30th SW
*Monday night, 9400 block 22nd SW (noted here)

ABOUT THAT HELICOPTER EARLY THURSDAY: Didn’t get a chance to mention it in the middle of the power-outage coverage, but the helicopter heard briefly over West Seattle early Thursday was Guardian One, tweeting afterward that they were checking for a Fauntleroy prowler but didn’t find anything.

Another unique stolen item to watch for: Linda Sabee‘s Little Free Library:

Linda is the proprietor of The Junction boutique Carmilia’s, and the stolen LFL (shown in her photo from its time outside her Alki-area home) has sentimental value:

My dad and son built it in honor of my mom, who was an elementary school teacher and sadly died in 2007. She was a lover of education and a huge supporter of reading, book,s and literacy.

About a year and a half ago, when I did a freshening-up of the shop, I decided to put the free library in front of Carmilia’s. It was very wel- used and a fun addition to the ‘hood and my shop.

About two weeks ago it was vandalized; someone tore it off its base. I left it on the sidewalk where it continued to be used. My dad will be returning from his snowbirding soon and I figured he and my son could fix it. Unfortunately, it was stolen last week. It really sickens me that people would treat any piece of personal property with such disrespect, but such a sentimental piece confounds me all the more.

Contact police if you have info – or Linda, who can be reached via her shop (4528 California SW).

Four reader reports in tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch:

UPPER FAUNTLEROY BURGLARY: M & K report this from 41st and Thistle:

Basement windows broken to gain access to the outside entry basement. Bedroom window forced open to gain access to main area of the house, sometime between 10 am and 3 pm today.

Our house was ransacked, drawers emptied, jewelry, silverware and electronics stolen.

Neighbors described a man in his late 50’s walking back and forth behind our house along the 42nd street side while talking on a cell phone midday.

We are also speaking with neighbors who have security cameras for footage. If anyone reports seeing something, please contact us or SPD.

PRESCHOOL BURGLARY: Who steals from a preschool? Somebody, apparently: The Community School of West Seattle 22nd/Roxbury) was broken into overnight, according to a note sent to its families. We haven’t yet procured the report nor school permission to quote the note forwarded to us by a parent, so we hope to have more on this tomorrow.

CAR BREAK-IN, SPORTS GEAR STOLEN: Kristin is asking that you be on the lookout for what was stolen in this car prowl:

My daughter’s car was broken into parked on 27th Ave SW by Chief Sealth HS today between 1:15 pm and 3:10 pm. She is certain the doors were locked, but it’s an older car, and not difficult to get into with the right tools. Stolen from the trunk were a navy blue duffel bag with her volleyball gear (shoes, knee pads, spandex, etc) and a black backpack with softball gear (new glove, cleats, batting gloves, Under Armor, face mask, etc). I would assume these items have no street value, and may have been dumped somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood. If they are found, we would be happy to know and come retrieve. It’s already cost us almost $250 just to replace the necessities to get through this week’s high school softball games.

A report is filed with police.

PROWL ATTEMPT CAUGHT ON CAMERA: From a Sunrise Heights apartment garage, a would-be prowler caught on camera:

Here we have a prime example of ‪‎Prowlus Interruptus‬, a sub-species that clings to the bottom rungs of society and attempts survival by taking things that do not belong to them.

Thankfully, I came down into the garage just in time to scare them off. Police have been notified and a case is open. Please keep your eyes open for this white Jeep in the neighborhood.

We believe this was a targeted attempt to prowl one of our residents, but there was definitely some casing of the garage going on as well.

THANKS … for sharing the reports – our peninsula is one community and crime crosses neighborhood borders; a thief who strikes in Admiral could strike next in Arbor Heights … editor@westseattleblog.com or, if it’s happening now, text/call 206-293-6302 – once you’ve called 911, of course!

P.S. We covered tonight’s well-attended West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting and will have the story up around 10 if breaking news doesn’t interrupt.

In West Seattle Crime Watch, the newest reader reports start with a stolen classic car:

STOLEN 240Z: The 45-year-old car at right has been stolen. Nick says it’s “a dark blue 1971 Datsun 240z, pretty hard to miss. It was last seen at Dere automotive at 9201 35th Ave SW. It disappeared sometime last night before dawn. I appreciate any leads I can get, and any info should be reported to SPD, it is in the system.” The car has “collector plates,” #35707.

ANOTHER CAR WINDOW: We had two Crime Watch reports over the weekend with more than a few car-window-vandalism incidents (here and here – and see the comments for more reports). We’ve since received two more reports – first, from Brian:

Just a heads up for those in Gatewood. On Saturday night/early Sunday morning, someone broke the driver’s side window of our neighbors’ vehicle on California Ave at Holden [map]. It was an older Ford Explorer.

And from Elizabeth, also in Gatewood, noticed today: “Car window smashed on Thistle Street between 37th and 39th. [map] No theft, looks like window just smashed.”

FOLLOWUP – WHAT VANDALISM CAN COST: And if you think window-breaking sounds like a petty crime, consider the note we received from the first person to report his window and car were hit more than a month ago (yet another Gatewood victim): “We finally got the car back from the body shop and the repairs were about $3600 and three weeks with a rental car, so the total cost is approaching $5,000. Did the police ever find the person responsible for this?” Not so far as we’ve heard; we have an inquiry out to the precinct, too, but haven’t yet received a reply.

BURGLARY: Artur e-mailed us today about a burglary at his home last week, 7100 block of 34th SW [map]:

I had left my door unlocked and woke up to my dog barking at somebody who had opened my door and was standing at the doorway. By the time the cops came (10 mins), the man had left. Reminder to keep doors locked even if you’re at home.

CAR PROWL: Jenny reports spotting a car prowler in progress at 36th and Brandon [map] early today. Police responded but the suspect had fled in this case, too.

NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING: As previewed here earlier today, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets tomorrow (Tuesday) night at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 6:30 pm. All welcome – hear from (and bring your questions/concerns to) precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis and special guest City Councilmember Lisa Herbold.

Just got another car-window vandalism report – from Stacie on Puget Ridge:

Our car window and one of our neighbors’ car window were busted out this evening. 3-19 between 7:30 and 9:20.

We are on 16th Ave SW not too far from the college. We have filed a police report but also thought it would be good to let our community know.

This follows multiple reports from Admiral and points just south, published in Crime Watch this morning, plus secondhand mentions from Sunrise Heights and North Delridge. Call 911 fast if you see/hear something happen, to increase the chances whomever’s doing this will be caught before somebody gets hurt.