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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Car prowlers are back’; wire thieves

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Two quick notes to share in West Seattle Crime Watch news this morning. Turns out these two latest reports are from the same area. First, from Emily:

Just wanted to get the word out that the car prowlers are back in my neighborhood. I live around 37th and Graham [map] and it’s the third time in the past few months my car has been broken into. The first time they broke in, they got some coffee-soaked change, the second and third time, nada! (Car owner learned her lesson of leaving spare change in car).

And from Vanessa, about two blocks north:

Just noticed over the last couple of days, someone has cut what they can off of the utility poles for the copper. Our alley is between Findlay SW and Juneau SW and between 36th SW and 37 SW. [map]

Side note – The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has announced its guest speaker for the next meeting (7 pm May 18, Southwest Precinct) – Lt. Woodrow Perkins of the Liquor Control Board.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two theft alerts – car and mail

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share this morning – first, a stolen car (with a photo); second, stolen mail, and where part of it turned up – read on for both:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 updates from Admiral/California

FIRST: Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James tells WSB that the suspected robber and getaway driver from yesterday’s Admiral Way Bank of America robbery (WSB coverage here) both have been arrested. No details yet except that, according to Lt. James, “Tukwila PD that arrested the female driver after a short pursuit which subsequently led to the arrest of the male robber.” SECOND: We also asked him about an incident late last night in the same area, after two people sent us notes asking what was up with a notable police/fire presence around 11 last night. Lt. James says they got a call that someone had hit the clerk at the Admiral Way 7-11; the assault suspect walked/ran away, police set up “containment” including a K-9 unit, but didn’t find the suspect. 2:06 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has more details on this now, including the arrest of the male suspect at a Tukwila motel this morning – read the full report here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Admiral Bank of America robbed

May 5, 2010 5:58 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to everybody who called, e-mailed and sent Facebook messages about the big police response at Admiral and California. Police at the scene confirm the Bank of America on Admiral at 44th has been robbed. No description at this point and no word of any arrest. The bank is closed because of the robbery. 6:34 PM UPDATE: Still no arrest, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James has a few more details: “No weapon seen, just a displayed note. The suspect was described as a white male, 35 years old. Witness stated he fled on foot to a waiting bluish/green Honda, driven by a female. Witness got a plate on it that turned out to be stolen plates.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: KeyBank robber strikes again, in Burien

May 5, 2010 10:23 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Remember the Junction KeyBank heist one month ago today? It’s believed the robber has struck again – and as this release from the King County Sheriff’s Office notes, they’re definitely thinking it might be a man disguising himself as a woman:

The Sheriff’s Office, Seattle Police, and the FBI are looking for what is possibly a male bank robber who disguises himself as a woman to rob banks—at least two so far.

The first robbery attributed to this suspect was on April 5th at the KeyBank, 4701 California Ave SW. The robber gave the teller demand note. No weapon was seen.

The second robbery was on April 28th at the Sterling Savings Bank in Burien, 224 SW 152nd. This time a note was also handed to the teller. But then the robber said there were “men who will hurt me” and that “she had kids”.

The teller did not hand over any money and believed the suspect was a woman. However detectives viewed surveillance video and came to the conclusion most likely “she” is actually a “he”.

The suspect is about 5’ 5” and 135 lbs. perhaps 40 to 50 years old. At the Sterling Bank his face appeared “bruised”. He/she wore a black hat, with a brim, yellow scarf, dark blazer jacket, black shirt, and black gloves.

Here’s a shot from the Burien heist.

Compare to a shot from April 5th in West Seattle:

Call 911 if you have any information about the robber – or, from our report last month: “Contact the FBI by telephone at (206) 622-0460, or e-mail at seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary, plus the “drunken plant thief”

May 4, 2010 9:57 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight. First, a burglary this morning; second, the recent tale of what one witness described as “the drunken plant thief” – read on for both:Read More

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Checking on West Seattle’s stolen totem pole, five months later

May 3, 2010 3:02 pm

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| Crime | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Five months ago today, we broke the news that the totem pole at West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park had been stolen. In the following days and weeks, we followed the story through the investigation, the first arrest, the discovery of the pole in Oregon a week later along with another stolen pole from Renton, and the poles’ return to Seattle, where the Parks Department took possession of the one from West Seattle:

(WSB photo from December 2009)
The next chapter’s taken a while, so we haven’t had an update for some time. However, since our inbox indicates many are wondering – here’s what’s going on. First, regarding the theft itself: Prosecutors have yet to file charges against the 69-year-old suspect, who was arrested twice in December, the second time in connection with the second stolen pole. We checked today with King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe – which we have done many times in the past few months – and here’s his reply:

It is still under review and investigation. Seeking some additional information, and we’ll let you know when we have a charging decision.

(WSB policy note: We evaluate every case separately, but our baseline policy is to not identify suspects until and unless they are charged. If you are just catching up on this story, the alleged motive for the theft was detailed in the law-enforcement document we transcribed for this late December report.) Meantime, the Rotary Club of West Seattle – which gave Viewpoint Park and the totem pole to the city in 1976 – is awaiting the outcome of this part of the case. But there’s some urgency, explains Josh Sutton from Rotary, who had two updates when we checked with him today – first:

Our club had decided in January that we would await outcome from thief/prosecutor on next steps for the pole. We are reconsidering our options, as this has taken much too long.

He then went on to add that one of the Rotarians who cracked the case is fighting for his life: “On a more personal note to our club, Ken Wise, longtime Rotarian, has received word that his cancer is terminal, potentially end of summer.” Ken is one of the men in this photo we took near Lake Sawyer, when we went along as he and fellow Rotarian Duane Ruud accompanied the tow-truck driver who took the pole away the night it was stolen – believing the removal had been authorized – back to where he’d dropped it off:

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Josh goes on to say, “Ken has made it clear he wants the pole put back before he passes. Our club is working hard to see what we can do to make that possible.”

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3 West Seattle Crime Watch reports: Car theft/prowlers, burglary

May 2, 2010 3:17 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three Crime Watch reports to share this afternoon – after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Intruder on cam, and 3 other reports

April 30, 2010 9:18 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports ahead – including an intruder caught on surveillance camera, pricey shoes pilfered from a car trunk, more car break-ins, and a puzzling porch theft – read on to see the reports (with a few photos):Read More

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High Point meeting toplines – plus, how to help the victim

April 29, 2010 10:22 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

The full, long story will take a while to write, so for now, a few toplines from tonight’s High Point community meeting, organized by the High Point Neighborhood Association to discuss safety concerns in the aftermath of last Friday’s stabbing: Overflow crowd (photo shows a corner at the front of the big meeting room) at High Point Neighborhood Center, with HPNA leaders up front along with Southwest Precinct top leadership and Seattle Housing Authority reps. … The nearby assault that sent a 16-year-old boy to the hospital 2 hours earlier was a topic of discussion too – he was said to be Somali, and his injuries were described as serious … Asked why the suspect in last Friday’s attack was not charged with a hate crime, police explained that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office makes the final decision, but so far, they said, their investigation had not turned up evidence it was a hate crime … SHA management acknowledged there are “tensions” between groups of teenagers and promised more programs at the center and in nearby Commons Park in time for summer … A long line of people spoke at the meeting, with many different perspectives: Some criticized HP management. Some criticized police; some complimented them. Some criticized troublemakers’ parents. Others challenged HP residents to get to know each other better. … Now, a note that was NOT discussed at the meeting, because of its length (2 1/2 hours) and intensity: HPNA president Jennifer Cobb just sent word of the announcement they forgot to make as the meeting wrapped up:

We are collecting donations for the woman who was attacked. Make checks payable to the High Point Neighborhood Association and drop off at the High Point Center or mail to HPNA – 6400 SW Sylvan Way/Seattle, WA 98126 by Friday, May 14th.

As we’ve reported, the 40-year-old victim is home now; the 22-year-old suspect is charged with first-degree assault, jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, and scheduled for arraignment in two weeks. Again, our full story on tonight’s meeting is in the works.

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Update: Police search for assault suspect in High Point

April 29, 2010 3:58 pm

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| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(WSB cameraphone photo added 4:33 pm)
FIRST REPORT AT 3:58 PM: Thanks for the tips on the “multiple medic response/14” at Lanham/Morgan – which usually means an incident with multiple victims. On our way. 4:10 PM UPDATE: Police at the scene referred us to the SPD Media Unit, which tells us they received a report of an assault about half an hour ago. A 16-year-old boy had been assaulted at a basketball court by the High Point Neighborhood Center/Commons Park; “a large crowd had gathered, was not being cooperative with officers,” Officer Renee Witt says. They are still looking for the suspect, who was said to have punched the victim and then walked away; only description, a red shirt. Despite the Medic 14 dispatch, Officer Witt says only one victim is reported – but she also stresses, this is “very preliminary information.” (Neighborhood Center will be the scene of a community meeting coming up at 6 pm, to discuss last week’s stabbing nearby; police were invited, as well as neighborhood leaders and community members.) ADDED 4:20 PM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Helen Fitzpatrick confirms only one patient was transported to the hospital, but doesn’t have any condition info. The scene is mostly clear now.

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High Point stabbing suspect charged with first-degree assault

April 28, 2010 2:55 pm

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| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just announced that 22-year-old Marcus Combs is now charged with first-degree assault in connection with last Friday’s stabbing of a 40-year-old woman who was walking with her 9-year-old. Court documents we obtained and reported on Monday said he stabbed her 15 times in the head and body after attacking her and pushing her down along a High Point street. But as disclosed in a Seattle Housing Authority update on Monday, the victim was doing well enough to leave the hospital over the weekend and is recovering at home. Combs is scheduled for arraignment on May 12th; if found guilty on this charge, he could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison. The High Point Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a community meeting tomorrow night at HP Neighborhood Center to discuss the incident and other issues, and is also working to find out if there is anything the community can do collectively to help the victim’s family. ADDED 3:24 PM: Transcription, from the charging documents, of exactly how it’s alleged the Friday afternoon attack went down – read on:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Harbor Avenue business break-in

April 27, 2010 6:27 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Severson Construction in the 3200 block of Harbor Avenue (map) was burglarized overnight. We received this report from Candace Severson, who is hoping you will be on the lookout for three stolen computers:

The Seattle Police Department called us at home this morning (April 27th) at 2:00 a.m. from the inside of our office on Harbor Avenue. The front window had been taken out and three desktops (one black Sony Vaio desktop and two iMac Desktops) were stolen.

Some tenants who live in the condos above saw two men in a dark vehicle carrying the stolen merchandise. We have filed a police report and serial numbers have been placed on Craigslist for any good citizen who is interested in helping us recover our stolen items.

Here are the serial numbers;

I Mac Desktop 20″ White – W 88284 JUZE 2
I Mac Desktop – W 94492 DOPP 7
Sony “Vaio” Desktop – 27504130 – 4 – 3000366 – 4

Reward for information concerning this theft.

SPD’s non-emergency number is 206-625-5011 – but if you think you see something suspicious happening now, don’t hesitate to call 911.

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Crime Watch: Seaview metal ‘scavengers’; Junction sign theft

April 27, 2010 1:35 pm

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| Crime | Seaview | West Seattle news

If you’ve seen police activity in Seaview the past couple hours, Doug‘s report explains it:

Our housekeeper spotted three people in an old light blue van pull into the alley behind our house this morning. Two of the people got out and came into our backyard. She scared them off and called me. I drove around and found them doing the same thing in the alley near 47th and Findlay [map]. I got the police on the phone and followed the van for several blocks throughout the Seaview neighborhood until police arrived and stopped them in an alley off Graham and 46th. They told the cops they were looking for scrap metal, but officers are running their names to check for any warrants. As always, please report any suspicious vehicles to police. There have been far too many home burglaries in the area lately.

Not long after Doug’s note, we also heard from Gary, who said that a tow truck has since shown up to take the van away. We’re checking with police to see if that means there were arrests involving the three people who were in it. SECOND CRIME WATCH REPORT: Bob at Seattle Integrated Martial Arts in The Junction says a sandwich-board sign for his business and co-housed Limber Yoga was stolen from 42nd/Alaska on Sunday night – if you’ve seen it anywhere, let them and/or police know.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen this stolen Civic hatchback?

April 26, 2010 8:16 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Out of the WSB inbox, from Holly:

Just sending in a quick note to alert the community of a car theft. My white 1990 Honda Civic DX hatchback (plate #774-MVS) was stolen from in front of my home sometime between 9:00 last night and 9:00 this morning. We live in the Highland Park neighborhood on 18th Ave SW between Thistle and Cloverdale [map]. Any information regarding my beloved “Lily White” would be much appreciated.

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High Point stabbing updates: Victim home, suspect to be evicted

April 26, 2010 2:41 pm

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| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL 2:41 PM REPORT: Prosecutors have until Wednesday to file charges against the 22-year-old man arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 40-year-old woman along a High Point street Friday afternoon, but in the meantime, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just provided us with the document that indicates probable cause, and tells the story not only of the brutality of the attack, but also of the three heroes who helped and led police to the suspect. 3:25 PM UPDATE: After that document, following the jump, we also have added a letter that High Point residents are receiving, which includes information about a Thursday community meeting, the victim’s current condition, and eviction proceedings for the suspect’s household – read on to see it all:Read More

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Seattle Times collaboration: The cost of graffiti vandalism

April 25, 2010 11:52 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

That Seattle Times video about Seattle’s “Graffiti Rangers” is part of a package of stories that just hit the Times site, including a contribution from WSB. It’s been seven months since we and other neighborhood-news sites around the area became part of the J-Lab Networked Journalism Project – an experiment to see how small and large news organizations could work together – and while offshoots of that collaboration have been visible here in other ways, such as Times photos we’ve sought permission to run, and links from the Times home page directly to WSB coverage of big West Seattle stories, this is the first official collaborative project. A Times reporter has taken a look at the graffiti-vandalism “big picture” – and six of us partner sites have contributed stories and vignettes about what’s happening in the neighborhoods. You can see it all here.

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Stabbing update: Victim said to be stable; suspect’s bail, $1 million

April 25, 2010 9:18 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Two updates tonight in the High Point stabbing case from Friday afternoon — already reported in the comment section following our original story, but we realize not everyone checks back: First, we now have two reports that the 40-year-old victim is in stable condition; we’d checked with police earlier today and that’s also the newest information they had. Second, while we won’t find out about possible charges against the suspect any earlier than tomorrow, the King County Jail Register says the 22-year-old suspect’s bail is set at $1 million. Many people have asked if there’s anything they can do to help the victim and her family; we’ll publish any updates we get along those lines, but haven’t heard anything yet.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Boat stolen near Lincoln Park

April 24, 2010 3:18 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Out of the WSB inbox:

Our boat was stolen sometime in the middle of the night [Friday night/today]. It is a blue and white 20 ft SeaDoo Utopia Jet boat on a trailer.

The boat was stolen near Lincoln Park on 46th Ave. SW between Thistle and Rose streets [map]. Please report this if you see this boat on land or on or near the water. A police report has been made.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary alert; suspected drug deals

April 23, 2010 11:52 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

Two quick Crime Watch notes tonight, one from Westwood and one from Highland Park – read on:Read More

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Update: Woman stabbed in High Point, man arrested

April 23, 2010 3:46 pm

| 88 COMMENTS

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted at 6:54 pm for our original cameraphone pic)
ORIGINAL 3:46 PM REPORT: On our way to the “assault with weapons” call at Graham/Lanham. Just got a call from someone who says one person’s been stabbed – we are working to confirm. 3:53 PM UPDATE: We’ve just arrived at the scene. Still lots of police. Christopher Boffoli is here too and tells us that the victim has been taken to Harborview (which has also just been mentioned on the scanner). SW Graham is closed off less than a block east of 35th SW because of the police action. 4:05 PM: TV helicopter over the scene (in case you heard helicopter noise elsewhere and wondered). Make that two TV helicopters. 4:14 PM UPDATE: According to Officer Renee Witt in the SPD media unit, police got a call around 3:30 that a woman had been stabbed, apparently in the 6000 block of Lanham – she was found outdoors. A male suspect was seen running away, wearing a “yellow inside-out hoodie.” Officer Witt says a few people apparently followed the man to Lanham/Graham and he went into a house here; they’re trying to get him to come out. At the scene, you can see police taking people into and out of at least two squad cars, questioning them. 4:24 PM UPDATE: Two witnesses say they believe police HAVE arrested the man, so we’re still trying to get official confirmation on that. They did not have information on the victim’s condition so we’re checking with SFD regarding whether the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or not. 4:41 PM UPDATE: Suspect is indeed in custody; police also tell us the weapon was a “short-bladed knife.” SW Graham is now open again, though the police are still on Lanham north of Graham. They say they’ll be wrapping up soon, after a few more scene photos. 7:38 PM UPDATE: Police have now posted a report on SPD Blotter. It says the 40-year-old victim – who was walking with her 9-year-old daughter at the time of the attack – and 22-year-old suspect are NOT believed to have known each other. Her injuries are described as life-threatening; her child was not hurt. The suspect is jailed for investigation of assault. We have cross-referenced the name on the jail register that we believe is that of the suspect; no previous record aside from a traffic violation.

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Trouble at KeyBank in The Junction again – but NOT a robbery

April 22, 2010 1:49 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Photo added 2:50 pm)
Thanks to Katie for the Twitter tip on this – she heard about trouble at the KeyBank in The Junction; we called SPD’s media unit and here’s what Det. Mark Jamieson says happened: A man broke a window at the bank (update: north side, as shown above), then walked inside and apparently told the staff he wanted to pay for it, even offered his ID. Then he left (Det. Jamieson isn’t sure if payment was taken before this) and caught a bus, hand bleeding from the broken glass. Metro and SPD were notified, and they stopped the bus at 35th/Avalon to take the man in custody – they also called the Fire Department to check out his injury. From there, he was to be taken to the Southwest Precinct for questioning.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: More numbers, and 2 reports

April 20, 2010 6:38 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

First, the numbers: During the crime-trends update at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (WSB coverage here), Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James mentioned that auto theft was down, but didn’t mention numbers. We just got those from him – 38 in February, dropping to 28 in March. Meantime, we have two short reports from WSB’ers who wanted to get the word out about recent incidents – read on:Read More

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