That surveillance camera image, says Pete, shows a thief rolling his package away – after an earlier image showed her heading toward his house with nothing in the stroller/cart. He says the theft happened Friday of last week: “I reported it to the police but I was seeing other people in the Highland Park area also reporting missing packages. … I live in the area of 14th and Thistle … be on the lookout for people using this tactic.”

From Admiral, Brian reports his vehicle was broken into – in the underground garage of his building in the 2600 block of 42nd SW:

Sometime during the night of 2/20 or early morning of 2/21 my Suburban was burgled while parked in the underground parking garage. They smashed two windows and stole several thousand dollars of professional video and audio equipment. The officer who took my report said there had been several other parking garage incidents in the WS area, going along with the general rise in crime in our neighborhood.

Be careful … parking in a “secure” garage isn’t a guarantee of safety!

And a reminder: Your next chance to learn more about crime prevention/crimefighting is this Tuesday night when the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at 6:30, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) – mail theft and mail fraud are the focus. All welcome, even if you’re not part of a Block Watch (yet).

(2/13/13 WSB photo by Katie Meyer; scene of robbery that led to Willis’s arrest)
46-year-old Paul Eugene Willis – the man arrested in connection with six recent armed robberies in West Seattle, White Center, and vicinity – is now charged with three counts of first-degree robbery. Partner site White Center Now had first word of the robbery spree in January; then we learned the same suspect was also believed to be responsible for both recent holdups of the Smoke and Beverage Shop at 35th and Roxbury, the second of which led to his arrest, reported here last Friday (when we also reported that he served prison time for other holdups on Roxbury – including the same 76 station he allegedly recently robbed). The charging documents exhaustively detail the detective work that led to Willis’s arrest – from studying similarities in the robberies’ M.O., to discovering a certain vehicle on surveillance footage. We’ll summarize as soon as we can, but wanted to get word out about the charges. Willis remains in jail, with bail set at half a million dollars, and arraignment scheduled in early March. (Mug shot is from state Department of Corrections, taken in 2006; they tell us he’s been out since 2008 after serving time for those earlier robberies.)

Two reader reports from one Avalon Way condo-building break-in top this round of West Seattle Crime Watch. First one came from Blair, whose building is in the 3200 block:

The intruder broke into the lower parking garage and stole things from a few storage units, including mine. There was a white specialized woman’s bike and a bunch of tools including a Bosch Saw. They broke out a piece in the garage door to get in and broke the locks off our units. The case # is 2013-54488.

Later we heard from H:

We had a break-in last Friday night (2/15/13) that I’d like to let you guys know about. It happened at about 10:50 pm and he was captured pretty clearly on our building’s security cameras. A single male dressed in baggy cargo pants and a camo-colored parka removed a metal grating panel in the door of one of our building’s two garages. He was able to climb through and spent quite a while in the garage, breaking in to several storage units, making off with a bicycle, tools, clothes, and other random stuff. He wasn’t able to get into the second garage or into any other parts of the building. The amazing thing is that at least three residents came into the garage while he was in there, but nobody noticed anything out of the ordinary. It’s a good reminder for those who live in multi-unit buildings to stay alert and know who your neighbors are. And don’t leave valuable stuff in your car, even if you’re in a secured garage! Police were contacted.

Jamie reports a package theft:

We’re missing a package – UPS has it listed as delivered and someone with the initials “MO” signed for it around 11:30 today. We weren’t home during that time. Unfortunately (neither) my initials, nor my husband’s are MO, and the neighbors didn’t sign for it. Ironically, our mail in our mailbox was left untouched. I’m in Highland Park near 14th and Trenton – please give the neighborhood notice.

And on a positive note – Jeff‘s stolen Subaru is back:

I’m happy to report our car has been recovered. It was found up on Capitol Hill by the Seattle Police. Other than a dead battery and a scattered glove box, it appears to be OK. Many thanks to the SPD, they were very helpful.

P.S. We’ll report later today on Tuesday night’s Crime Prevention Council meeting, which included an update on a recent burglary arrest of even more value than it seemed of the time, plus new crimefighting technology.

Another stolen Subaru to watch for – topping tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup of reader reports. From Jeff:

Our car was stolen from in front of our house near 50th and Edmunds sometime between 10:00 pm last night and 9:00 am this morning. It’s a green 1998 Subaru Legacy wagon with a roof rack, license number 961 VBQ. Please call the police if sighted.

Thanks to the Seattle Police for being extremely helpful and prompt. An officer was here to take my report within half an hour of my call, and by the time I checked it had already been posted online. I really appreciate their responsiveness!

Ahead, two car prowl reports, from the Alki/Beach Drive vicinities:

Read More

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight – first, Lizz reports a car theft:

Hey, my car was stolen from the corner of 9th and Thistle in the Highland Park area, in the middle of the night between 2/15-2/16, not sure what time. It is a light blue Honda Civic ’91, with a fuzzy steering wheel, cherries and a yellow air freshener tree hanging from the front mirror. There is no side mirror on the right side. The license plate number is 530YTG. Please keep an eye out, and if spotted, please call the police and Tina at 206-321-5660. Thank you!

And from Diane, a car prowl:

I want to report that we had our car prowled (Charlestown &52nd Ave SW) sometime late last night 2/16/13 or early this morning 2/17/13. The car was unlocked and there was nothing of great value in it but the contents of the glove box were strewn all over and my dog barrier was broken. It seems they did not take the change from the door pocket but did make off with some leather gloves and I’m hoping nothing else.

Yet another reminder – your next chance to bring neighborhood-crime concerns/questions directly to local police, and to hear about the latest trends, is Tuesday night (February 19th) at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council’s meeting, also including guests discussion Seattle Parks security/safety and the SPD Victim Assistance Program. 7 pm at the precinct (Delridge/Webster), all welcome.

While there’s no update on the armed street robbery we reported last night in the 28th/Adams area of North Delridge, SPD Blotter has published summaries of two others from last night – one in the Admiral area, another one in North Delridge. In the first case, the victims and suspects were all juveniles – 3 victims, 4 robbers, around 9 pm in the 2600 block of California SW – here’s the summary. In the second, a man walking in the 4800 block of Delridge Way just before 11 pm, after leaving what police describe as a “large party,” was held up; police found the suspect, and the items he stole, by going back to the party. Here’s that summary.

Also, a reader report of a man who she says was behaving lewdly – not a complete flasher but seemingly on the verge – on Marine View Drive this afternoon between Roxbury and 104th (map). She described him as “seemingly Latino or Middle Eastern with facial hair, probably in his 30s” and says he was “walking along with his shirt rolled up and the top of his pubic region exposed,” and after they passed, pulled his pants further down to expose more of his backside. She says she tried calling the non-emergency police line but gave up after being bounced around. As we told her, police advise that you call 911 in most cases, including something like this; the dispatchers are the same and will route you if need be.

Watch for that wedding ring – which belonged to the late husband of a West Seattleite who says her family’s home was broken into Friday. The burglary victim, who asked that her name not be used, says there were also irreplaceable items – photos of her late husband – on an iPod (described as “5th generation, blue”) taken by the burglar(s). The break-in happened sometime between 8 am and 3 pm Friday near 50th/Edmunds (map); if you have any information about the ring, or the burglary, contact police.

7:51 PM: In North Delridge, police are searching after a report of a street holdup near 28th and Adams (map), per scanner traffic, in the Dragonfly Park area. The victim reported being held up by two people. We don’t have descriptions at this point but are publishing this preliminary information just in case you see the search – for which a K-9 team has been summoned – and wonder what’s going on. Updates when we get them.

10:41 PM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams tells us that the suspects are “four teenage males – at least one of whom was wearing a mask. Officers are attempting to get more specific descriptions. No one is in custody.” This is being investigated as an armed robbery, Lt. Williams says, because a gun was reported to have been displayed.

Today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with video that might help solve a car theft:

CAR THEFT ON VIDEO: Tracy published this video to YouTube. He got it from a neighbor’s camera after his navy blue 2012 Subaru Outback (WA plate A128625) was stolen Thursday morning near 33rd and Hinds (map). The video shows Tracy’s car being driven away, and Tracy suspects the two males shown earlier in the clip are the thieves. If they aren’t, they are certainly witnesses, because, Tracy explained in an online chat answering our followup questions, the street in the video is a dead-end driveway and his house is the only thing they would have been walking toward. Tracy says a witness who saw the car go by afterward noticed two males inside. If you see the car and/or know who the people in the video are, contact police.

BURGLARY ATTEMPT THIS MORNING: From Mel in Westwood/Roxhill:

Just wanted to let the blog know that we had an attempted break in at our house today, it’s in the 34th/Henderson area [map]. Happened about 9:15, I had just left the house for work about 8:40. We live on an alley and they came in through our alley gate We have an alarm and it stopped them. they kicked in our door and then the alarm went off, and we have a sturdy door that we must now replace. They kicked it and heard the alarm and ran, according to the police. Alarm company called me, police were dispatched and showed up pretty quickly–i had asked my neighbor to head over and check things out and she met them. They waited for me to get home. they had checked the place carefully. They said there has been an uptick in burglaries in this area, and to especially be on the lookout for old u haul trucks, as these scumbags are using them to clear out entire houses. They also walked the house with me and gave me other safety tips re doors, locks, using 3 inch screws to secure your door/deadbolts, etc. Nice guys.

A reminder that a new neighborhood council is forming in Mel’s area – Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights for now – and public safety will be on next month’s agenda. If you’re interested, the Facebook group is here, and the invite for the March 6th meeting is here.

Ahead, three more reports, including a hit-run victim looking for witnesses, and two reports of suspicious circumstances:

Read More

Five reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, starting with a stolen vehicle:

William writes:

Hy 94 Nissan Pathfinder was stolen last night from where I park at my gf’s house most nights. Photo attached. Seattle Police incident# 13-505070 First three license plate #’s are ACZ.

Heather from Seaview reports her home was broken into:

I wanted to let you know that my house was broken into yesterday afternoon around 5:00 pm. The thief broke open my back door and entered my bedroom where many valuable things were stolen – specifically an entire jewelry box along with other less valuable items. We believe the suspect was seen by a visitor at a neighbor’s house who saw him, one guy, leave in a black older Volvo with my jewelry box and a suitcase (which he filled with other stuff). Police were called and searched my home and tested for fingerprints. The individual was described as a white male with long face, unsure of age, driving an older black 5 door Volvo, wearing a black jacket and a hat. We are hoping one of the neighbors video surveillance may have captured the suspect.

Also of importance is that the thief broke in while my dog was there. She was not injured or stolen but surprised that they would hit a home with a dog (border collie pit bull mix – not aggressive at all).

An anonymous report of car prowlers in Upper Fauntleroy:

Please let the community know there have been a series of car break-ins over the last week just south of Thistle on Sullivan Street. Thieves rifled through cars and took small items. Our neighborhood watch is keeping an eye out, and yours should, too!

A package theft report from Jillian:

We had a package stolen off of our porch at 35th and Dakota. It happened yesterday between noon and 6:00 p.m. My boyfriend came home at 6:00 and noticed that someone had taken the package and replaced it with an empty Cabela’s box that looks like it was stolen out of a neighbor’s recycling bin. We are having all of our packages sent to our work addresses now, and I would advise our neighbors to do the same.

And Ray says someone is tearing up the grass at Hiawatha again:

Just got back from walking my dogs through Hiawatha by WSHS. Someone, for the second time in about 3 weeks, drove all over the lawn on the east side of the community center. Needless to say, the grass is all torn up. … I wish whoever is doing this to our park would get caught.

As noted here earlier today, park safety/security is the topic when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets next Tuesday.

If you’re noticing the police search in THe Junction – officers are looking for a man who is reported to have tried to hold somebody up. The partial description we have so far is a black man wearing a gray ski mask. He was last seen near Edmunds and 41st, possibly in the alley between 41st and 42nd, heading south. More as we get it.

Early heads-up – two weeks from tonight, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will take on a crime problem that’s repeatedly plagued several local neighborhoods: Mail theft. WSBWCN just announced that U.S. Postal Inspectors will be on hand to talk about it at their February 26th meeting, 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) – and no, you do NOT have to be a Block Watch captain, or even part of a BW, to attend.

This afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with word of an arrest in the carjacking two weeks ago. From this SPD Blotter report:

A 29-year-old suspect is in custody for a carjacking that occurred last month near the West Seattle Golf Course.

During the course of the investigation, robbery detectives developed information on the possible identity of the suspect. A wanted bulletin was sent out to officers. On February 10th, detectives received information that the suspect had been arrested by King County Sheriff’s deputies on an unrelated charge. The next day, the suspect was brought into the Robbery office where he was interviewed by detectives. After the interview, the suspect was re-booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

Now on to WSB reader reports: From 44th/Spokane, Melanie was the victim of a car prowl:

Someone got into my car last night, parked on the street, I thought it was locked but must not have been. They ransacked it (glove box, console, etc.) obviously looking for something more specific of value than they found. Some things of value were left – Bob stroller, sunglasses, empty laptop bag…. I don’t think anything was taken – that I can tell. Also it appears someone sat in the driver seat because some of my gages were turned on/off etc.

Also about two weeks ago, some broke the window of a car on my street, owned by a guest staying with us. They stole a camera. He filed a report with the police.

We also received a quick report from Shannon – who came back from church last Sunday to discover that her home near Myrtle Reservoir Park had been broken into.

After the jump, a possible casing, followed by a bike theft with a scooter left behind:
Read More

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – a burglary in which the victim lost keepsakes from family photos to her wedding ring – and what appears to have been a case of casing – details after the jump:Read More

Out of the WSB inbox, from DC:

We live on the 3800 block of 17th Ave SW. There were several cars on our street broken into last night around 3:30 am. They went up and down our street and smashed passenger side windows and opened unlocked doors.

Our neighbor’s dog was barking and woke their owners up, which made them spring into action and call the police. They caught a glimpse of the prowlers and yelled out to them, which prompted them to flee.

The police arrived here around 3:45 a.m, and left their business card with an incident number on our front seats. Our cars had minimal damage, broken window’s, and open glove compartments, they rummaged through papers and stuff.

We just thought our West Seattle neighbors should be aware and be safe.

P.S. Not related, but if you wondered about a helicopter just east of West Seattle last night – it was a search in South Park; we have the story on partner site The South Park News.

Even one crime is too many … but as we watch trends, that screengrab of the SPD crime map, just showing auto-theft reports, is actually “good” news, relatively speaking. It represents seven auto thefts reported in the past week (the top marker represents three, the bottom marker represents two), a big drop from one week earlier. When we showed you the same screengrab nine days ago, 19 vehicle thefts had been reported in the preceding week.

We looked up the latest stats after getting a direct reader report of one theft that is among the seven on the map, and Justin is offering a reward:

I would like to let you know that I have a 26-foot U-Haul that was stolen from the corner of 38th and Genesee Tuesday morning. It was halfway full of furniture and personal belongings. It had an Arizona license plate number.

It was reported to the police on 2/5/13 @ 9:30 am. General offense # 13-040818. Officer Spadoni badge @1968 was responding on case. There is a $1000 reward for return of property.

If there’s a house for sale near yours – keep an extra-close watch, advises B, who reports a break-in:

Thought other folks might want a heads up to keep an eye out on vacant homes for sale in Highland Park. We are selling our property and were called (Tuesday) after someone threw a rock through the window and climbed through. As we were fixing the window two kids, around 20, both stopped by, coming in from the alley.

Our neighborhood block watch is very active and folks have been keeping an eye out on the property. However, even with all of these eyes keeping watch, these punks were still around somewhere.

Hate for someone else to have the same experience. Thanks to SPD SW folks for their professionalism and effort. Whole new level of respect for their work and effort to keep us safe. Just wish folks like those we encountered yesterday didn’t make it so hard.

Highland Park and other residents near the city/county line might be interested in tomorrow (Thursday) night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council public-safety forum, since crime knows no borders – it’s at 7 pm at the Boys and Girls Club at Greenbridge (9800 8th SW), details on our partner site White Center Now.

(Thursday photo by Mike Scharer)
Five days after last Thursday’s estate-sale robbery in the Belvidere neighborhood (WSB coverage here), Seattle Police are showing photos of what they believe to have been the getaway car:

Last Friday, you might recall, we published a detective’s call for images from any surveillance camera along the possible getaway route. Today, the images you see above are part of an update by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee just published on SPD Blotter:

… After the robbery, police were able to track down footage captured by privately-owned surveillance cameras, and detectives now believe the suspect fled the scene in a blue two-door 2007 or 2008 Chevy Cobalt. Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his late 20′s to early 30′s, 5’9 to 5’10, with a large build and dark hair. He was dressed in a black ski mask, black jacket, and black pants, and was armed with a semi-automatic pistol.

Follow the link to SPD Blotter to see photos of some of the jewelry. Spangenthal-Lee writes that part of the estate sale’s proceeds were to benefit Woodland Park Zoo, per the will of the home’s former owner. Meantime, the full report on the robbery is also now available; it says the robber entered the home where the sale was under way at mid-afternoon last Thursday and yelled, “This is a robbery, get down!” forcing everyone present to get down on the floor, and ordering them not to look at him. According to the report, he had trouble getting into the case where the jewelry was displayed, and banged on it, trying to break the glass, until someone told him – worried he would become more violent – that it wasn’t locked. The report says he got away with $5,000 in jewelry and $4,000 in cash.