Two car-prowl reports and a bicycle theft in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BEACH DRIVE: Kevin reports, “On my run this a.m around 8 or so I came across a black Mercedes convertible with a smashed window and CDs all over the ground.” He says it was in the 5600 block of Beach Drive. He tried reporting it to 911 but they explained the policy that the victim has to make the report – so if you’re in that area with a vehicle parked on the street, you might want to take a look.

GENESEE: Anna reports a car break-in on 45th SW between Andover and Dakota on Friday night: “They took two DVD players and two pairs of sunglasses. They also left a bunch of stuff on our stairs that wasn’t ours including A fire extinguisher and what looked like a car safety kit. The police took those items as evidence.”

BICYCLE THEFT ON VIDEO: Not far from there, Donnie caught a bicycle thief on video, on the west side of California/Andover early Thursday:

If you’ve seen a silver Redline bicycle with a green/black seat, that might be Donnie’s.

Something for Crime Watch? Report it to the police first – then you can e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com. If breaking news, after alerting 911, text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon:

‘CITY LIGHT’ SCAM CALL HITS ANOTHER LOCAL BUSINESS: Amber at Freshy’s wanted to get the word out after hearing from the scam callers who claim they’re from City Light and you (usually a business) have to pay a bill immediately or lose your power:

They said my funds weren’t appropriated correctly and a technician was coming out in 30 min to shut off my business power. I had to call someone else and they said it would happen if I didn’t pay and then a technician called and said he would be there ASAP and was going to turn it off. Then they said it wouldn’t be able to come back on till Monday. I had to call someone else who said I had to pay the balance (which they knew the amount) and that they would reimburse later. I said that it was paid and that it has cleared my bank and he said that it was just “misappropriated.” I was so freaked I almost paid… Then I called the police and they said this was an ongoing scam. I called the guy back and said that I reported his number and the technician’s number and he said “chill bitch, chill”…then hung up. Maybe put the word out to businesses so they don’t have a near heart attack like me!

Our previous reports on recipients of these scam calls include this one from a year ago and several others. The city’s put out warnings including this one.

34TH SW CAR BREAK-IN: Matt‘s Jeep was broken into late Monday or early Tuesday in the 5900 block of 34th SW [map]. “I had a duffle with cold weather gear, a jack, and a bag of accessories for the winch that were taken out of the back. It was parked directly in front of the house. The 5900 block of 34th has had a high incidence of minor property crime, car prowls, utility theft, and police call outs over the last 18 months.”

P.S. Our report on last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting is in the works. Big topic: Police staffing.

In West Seattle Crime Watch today – a reader report from Kyle:

My family’s home was burglarized (Monday) afternoon.

I came home from work to find my back door kicked in and two Apple computers stolen as well as an XBOX one, Samsung sound bar, etc. The bad thing is the iMac that was stolen had our entire 7-year-old’s life of pics and movies on it! We have most saved on an external hard drive but it still hurts.

We live in the Westwood area and just wanted to spread a warning that people who don’t care about other humans are on the prowl. If you see an older iMac or MacBook Pro with a dent in the top, please let us know. Thanks!

And one more reminder that a briefing on local crime trends is on the agenda for tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – all welcome, block-watch captain or not – 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster.

We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with good news:

STOLEN CAR FOUND: Brent reported his car stolen in The Junction six days ago. Today, Kathleen posted this comment that she spotted it in her neighborhood off Beach Drive. And Brent has just confirmed, they got the car back!

CAR PROWLS: Again last night, at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (full report to come), Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis acknowledged that car prowling is at the top of the crime list in this area right now. And more happened last night, according to Janet, whose car was broken into on the 5000 block of 36th SW, with unique items taken:

GLASSES SAMPLES STOLEN

INVU Sunglasses (35 styles, 3 colors each)
Scott Harris, Michael Ryen, Cinzia,
Côte d’Azur , and DB4k ophthalmics.

Keep an eye out, please. … I can replace things with insurance but I would love to help stop this repeat offender. I’m asking optical shops to ask for receipts when filling RXs for frames they didn’t sell.

She’s sure it’s a repeat offender because she wasn’t the only victim last night – she was at a local auto-glass shop for repairs this morning when two other break-in victims came in, and she saw another car on her street with broken glass this morning.

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

TWO STOLEN CARS: First report is from Jenica:

My car was stolen from in front of my house. It is a 1999 2-door white Honda Civic, it has Acura rims, a spoiler and a moon roof. License plate number ALF0062; there is some paint missing on the passenger side rear bumper. I’m a single mom with a really tiny income, I can’t afford to buy another car. The police said cars are often found within a few miles from the owner’s home. I need all the eyes I can get out there as I have no way to go out looking for it very far.

(update) That theft happened on Pigeon Point; we don’t yet have a location for the next theft, reported by Austin: “My car was stolen this past weekend and I would really appreciate it if people kept an eye out for it. Last I saw it didn’t have any bumper stickers or distinguishing marks other than a couple scrapes on the rear right bumper. Honda Accord LX 1991 – White. License Plate: 515-ZRH.”

BURGLARY: Jim says his neighbors’ home was broken into on Monday morning:

They are on the corner of Spokane and 56th. The burglar entered the home when no one was there, but (one resident) returned home while one person was still inside the house. They were looking for valuables and did get away with their daughter’s laptop. … There was a new white 4 door sedan parked across the street on 56th that must have been waiting. It drove up the dead end and down (Spokane), and the SPU driver (who was helping [the victim]) saw someone limp up 56th (southbound) the same direction the car went.

WATER-TOWER GRAFFITI VANDALISM: Two people messaged us about graffiti vandalism on the Charlestown water tower. We went over; it’s entirely obscene/vulgar and showing you a blurred photo wouldn’t do much, but we did contact Seattle Public Utilities to ask how soon they planned to remove it. Obscene/hate graffiti vandalism is priority for removal, spokesperson Andy Ryan says, and also reminds you of the ways to report graffiti vandalism as soon as you see it:

·Use the city’s “Find It, Fix It” smartphone app.
·Call Seattle’s Graffiti Report Line to report graffiti on public or private property, 206-684-7587—or use the online Graffiti Report Form.
·Call the Seattle Police Department at 206-625-5011 to file a police report when graffiti appears on your property.
·Call 911 to report graffiti in progress. (Graffiti vandals must be caught in the act to be prosecuted.)

Private property with graffiti that has not been removed in a reasonable amount of time may be subject to fines under the Graffiti Nuisance Ordinance. Graffiti is typically removed:
·Within 10 business days for public property, within 45 to 60 days for private property.

And if you haven’t seen our earlier mentions – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, all welcome, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

Four cases in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

STREET ROBBERY REPORT: This is happening right now – a report of a citizen held up on the street near Delridge and Cloverdale, with the robber reportedly getting away southbound in an alley. The Guardian One helicopter might be called in for the search. No other details yet; we’re working on it. (3:22 pm update) The helicopter is indeed in the area. (3:38 pm update) The helicopter is gone; scanner mentioned someone detained – we haven’t been able to find an active scene on the ground, though, but will update if we do find out more.

BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: And from the WSB inbox:

UPPER FAUNTLEROY CAR BREAK-IN: Car prowler(s) smashed a window to get into Erin‘s VW Bug in Upper Fauntleroy overnight but made off with nothing but Hot Tamales candy (right). She says, “I’d be less angry if I left something obvious for them to take but there was nothing to take but candy in the cup holder. Jerks!”

About a mile to the north:

MORGAN JUNCTION CAR BREAK-IN: And it wasn’t the first time, reports Eva:

Another act of vandalism to report from the night of Saturday, January 16th into the morning of Sunday, January 17th. The driver side window of my vehicle (parked in the open garage of my apartment building at 6900 California Avenue SW) was smashed in. There were no valuables in the car and it appears nothing was taken. This is the second time my car has been broken into in the span of two months. In the previous attack the thief/thieves destroyed two locks on the car and stole an assortment of mundane items from inside.

And from there, a little more than a mile east:

HIGH POINT VANDALISM: Michelle sends the photo (we’ve cropped it so as not to show the entire outsized tag on the pavement in front of the bench), noting, “This is not common in this pretty park…happened (Saturday) night.”

You can report graffiti vandalism via the city’s Find It, Fix It app, too.

REMINDER – CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL TUESDAY NIGHT: If you have neighborhood concerns, questions about an ongoing situation or unsolved case, this is where you’ll find precinct leadership (and usually Community Police Team officers too) when the all-volunteer West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets, 7 pm Tuesday at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Special guest, an insurance-industry expert who’ll talk about the newest trends in how car prowlers/thieves are doing their illegal work, and which cars are currently most vulnerable. All welcome.

Reported by your neighbors around West Seattle:

BIKE FOUND – STOLEN FROM YOU, PERHAPS? Anthony found a new Novarra bicycle leaning against a fence north of Lincoln Park on Friday night, apparently abandoned, as tends to happen to stolen bicycles. If this might be yours, please e-mail him details about the color/model/accessories of the one you’re missing – anthonymedeiros1958 (at) gmail.com

HIGHLAND PARK CAR BREAK-IN: Reader report received this morning:

My husband’s car was broken into and vandalized last night. Went to bed around midnight and woke up around 8 am. Found glove-box contents strewn about the seat; a broken phone holder was stolen. We’re right across the street from Highland Park Elementary, 8600 block 10th SW.

ADMIRAL CAR BREAK-IN: From S:

Just wanted to report our car was broken into late night Saturday the 9th, possibly early that Sunday morning. They stole a mahogany Martin guitar. It was in the Admiral District off 42nd and Lander on the side of The Sanctuary. We have sent a police report, just now getting the word out as we had to leave out of town the next day.

Side note: Learn more about the newest tactics car prowlers/thieves are using, by coming to the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm Tuesday at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

HIT AND RUN: From Jon:

Car hit and run: At around 10 am on Sunday 1/10, an unmanned parked car was hit from behind on 55th between Genesee and Dakota. The force of the impact pushed the car into the street. Witnesses saw a black 4-door Hyundai sedan drive away with something (its bumper?) dragging. I imagine there is significant damage to the front of this car. If you see a car that matches this description, please call the Seattle police. Much thanks!

ILLEGAL DUMPING INTERRUPTED: Jim reports interrupting this truck trying to “offload its contents on private property around noon Saturday in North Shorewood – pretty distinctive-looking ’90s Ford pickup:”

That’s just over the city limits line, so it’s been reported to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports. First, from Brooke:

(At mid-afternoon today) while a contractor was on break, someone stole the tools from his truck, and kicked in the door of the house he was working on and stole the tools from inside as well. The tools were taken from the 9000 block of 14th AVE SW. He is really distressed, and just called the police after much urging from several of us on the street and him being pessimistic that they could do anything. I was hoping we could be awesome neighbors and keep our eyes peeled to see if we can reunite him with his tools. If anyone sees anything or notices someone unloading or trying to sell a large number of tools, please call the police and tell them you think it might be related to this case.

And from Heather:

I am contacting you so you can remind our West Seattle community to be vigilant about checking their mail every day. I live at on the 6000 block of California Avenue near the Morgan Junction and a row of mailboxes was broken into last night.

We found out the hard way that a new credit card had been in the mailbox: At about 6:00 (Thursday) evening, the thieves went to a gas station and then tried to buy merchandise at Nordstrom’s. For once, the fact that the card was at its limit saved us because the transaction was denied. The only way we found out was an email from Amex apologizing for not being able to complete the purchase.

I strongly urge everyone to check the balances on debit and credit cards regularly for suspicious charges. Check your mailbox every day. And keep your eyes peeled for these criminals. Something as simple as stealing mail can cause quite the headache, financial and otherwise.

And a reminder – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes its monthly meetings next Tuesday, January 19th, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Along with local police, an insurance-industry expert will be there to talk about current trends in car break-ins and thefts, in hopes the information can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Someone stole Brent‘s 1996 black Honda Accord EX: “It was last parked at 42nd and Edmunds, parked next to Safeway on the street. It had a handicap placard hanging from the mirror. There was a brand-new Britax car seat (1 week old) in the back seat.” The license plate: AHF 0976. Call 911 if you see it.

Ever since last week’s incident that led police to find 32 shell casings outside a house in the 5600 block of Delridge Way, we’ve been working to get the report, to see if it would include anything more on what happened or why. We finally obtained it today.

The report was written by the patrol officer who responded to what was described as five callers who “reported hearing 10 or more shots in the area” just before 1 am last Wednesday (January 6th). That included a caller who reported finding “eight bullet holes in her front and side windows.”

At that residence, the officer wrote:

The glass storm door that faces west was shattered and there was a bullet hole in the front door. The front yard on the west side of the house was littered with shell casings and there appeared to be multiple bullet holes in the north side of the house. Twenty-seven 7.62 shell casings were located in the front/west yard and driveway, along with five 9 mm shell casings and one unfired 9 mm round. The casings were strewn about the front/west yard and driveway. It appeared the shooter or shooters stood in the yard and the driveway and targeted the house. 13 holes were located in the house, including a shattered window frame in the north side of the house. Two spent rounds that appeared to have hit the yard and bounced into the cement foundation of the house were located on the ground on the west side of the house.

The resident told police she was asleep when she heard the shots, “jumped out of bed and pulled her mother out of her chair and onto the floor.” Another resident slept through it. As previously reported, no one was hurt; a witness reported that “he heard the shots, then saw 4 subjects run southbound on 23rd SW from SW Findlay and get into a dark-colored vehicle and left in an unknown direction.” (There is no description of the “subjects” nor anything more about the vehicle.) Police speculated a nearby alley might have been used as an escape route.

We have followups in the works on other recent incidents, too, but are writing them up separately. If you have concerns about this or any other neighborhood crime issues, by the way, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting – with local police in attendance as always – is one week from tonight, Tuesday, January 19th, 7 pm, at the Southwest Precinct, Delridge Way SW and SW Webster.

From Hilary:

Last night someone busted our car window in. It was parked in our driveway in the alley behind Graham St., nearest cross-street 30th Ave SW. The alarm never went off, strangely. We will look at camera footage tonight. Unclear if anything of value was stolen from it yet. High Point people, be vigilant!

P.S. We checked in recently with West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller, who confirmed the group WILL resume meetings this month – your chance to, among other things, hear from and ask questions of local police. 7 pm Tuesday, January 19th, at the precinct (Delridge/Webster).