Four reader reports about thefts:

STOLEN PICKUP: That’s Joanne‘s white 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup with white rack over the bed, “stolen between 5:07 pm January 31 and 7:00 am February 1 from in front of our house near Madison Middle School. WA plate C01899A. Let us know if you see it, please.” And call 911. (UPDATE: Found.)

STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Jeffrey:

Between Saturday night and 10 am 1/29/22 Sunday my Gary Fischer “Marin” mountain bike was stolen from my back yard, then walked out thru my neighbor’s yard. It was a well-used, XL frame, and would be hard to ride for anyone less than 6′ tall. It is orange, with stickers on it, and a custom seat.

STOLEN CATALYTIC CONVERTER: Brittany reports, “On Friday at the old Roxhill elementary school building across from the 76 and the Safeway on Roxbury, my catalytic converter was stolen from my Kia Soul, right in the parking lot at my school I work at.”

STOLEN CLOTHING: Drew reports that a box of “inventory from my new business venture” was stolen in a car break-in outside his home in Gatewood last Friday – a box unintentionally left in the car. In the box, about $2,500 worth of apparel, which he describes as “beach volleyball clothing (that) we just recently started selling online, so no one in the Seattle area has the clothing except for me (yet!). … Every piece of clothing has a “V” (for Voller) logo … The V logo on the clothing is in gold.” You can see here what the clothing looks like – the stolen items were shorts and T-shirts.

For the second time in 15 hours, we’ve received a reader report of a stolen green CR-V. This one is from Jessie:

This is an old photo of Jessie’s green 2000 Honda CR-V – it now has Washington plates, BFP5162, but still had the Virginia Tech Hokies tire cover when “stolen from 44th Ave SW between Dakota and Genesee … sometime between about 6-7 pm last night and 9 am this morning (2/1).” It’s been reported to police; call 911 if you see it.

From Brenda: “My 1997 green Honda CR-V was stolen last night. License plate AIZ6066. North Arbor Heights.” Call 911 if you see it.

Three incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch, all from SPD summaries:

SOUTH DELRIDGE GUNFIRE: 911 callers reported hearing what sounded like gunfire around Delridge and Trenton at 1:17 am. Moments later, someone called 911 to say bullets had hit his vehicle as he was turning onto Trenton from Delridge. No injuries, but police found evidence, including three bullet holes in the rear of the victim’s vehicle. He thought a “dark-colored vehicle” might have been involved.

ANOTHER 7-11 ROBBERY: For the second time in three days, a West Seattle 7-11 was held up. This time it happened at the 35th/Barton store, just before 5 am Sunday. Before the robbery, the clerk told police, the robber was in the parking lot, handling his handgun. Then he came into the store and said he wanted beer and a hot dog. The clerk said it was too early to sell alcohol. Eventually the man grabbed a hot dog while continuing to display his gun and left the store with it.

STOLEN CAR RECOVERED: Police say this started at 2:42 pm Friday, when “officers observed a suspicious vehicle with subjects loading up copper in the area of 29th SW / SW Brandon.” They determined it was a stolen car, but it left the area before they could take action. Later, the summary says, “Officers located the vehicle at a West Seattle recycle center and detained the driver as he exited the business. The driver denied any knowledge of the vehicle, but then asked to retrieve his cigarettes from inside the stolen vehicle …” Officers identified him as the same person they saw driving it from 29th/Brandon, and arrested him. Since the owner of the stolen car had given consent to search it (something you’re asked when reporting vehicle theft), they searched it and found stolen items inside – including a handgun and construction tools. The suspect was booked into the King County Jail.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:34 AM: From JC:

I just wanted to give a heads up of another vehicle theft in the neighborhood.

My blue 2005 Dodge Dakota was stolen from Brandon, near 41st Ave SW, last night or early this morning (Sunday 1/30). It has black racks and the bed was currently super full of construction debris for the dump. Washington license plate C99823V. Police incident #22-024965.

Call 911 if you see it.

(6:05 pm update – JC has the pickup back – see comments.)

1:40 PM: Just got another reader report, this one from Kat:

We wanted to let the community know that at 5:30 am on January 29th my wife woke up to an odd sound, and she went to the window to see that two individuals were stealing our catalytic converter from our 2007 Toyota Prius. She ran out to stop them but they quickly fled in a gray sedan with very dark tinted windows and a small shark fin on top of the car. This happened at 41st and Raymond. A police report was filed.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STORE THIEF: The Beer Junction reports a costly one-item shoplift:

We wanted to put the word out that we had an incident here at the Beer Junction on January 26th. This past Wednesday afternoon, a man came into our store wearing a backward ballcap, red and black pajama pants, a bright orange rain jacket, dark patterned button-up shirt and green wired headphones.

He spent a long time looking through our coolers, asking our staff a lot of questions about the products. He left the store and returned within the hour before taking a bottle worth $350 from our cellared beer collection. He grabbed the bottle and walked out without paying. We have filed a police report with the Seattle Police Department, Case # 2022-902113. If anyone can identify this man, we ask that they let us know or give the information to the police. We appreciate the support of our West Seattle community!

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT THWARTED: Another interrupted under-the-car theft, reported by Gary:

About 6 a.m. at corner of 45th and Juneau: Catalytic converter attempted to be stolen from my car. I heard a noise that woke me up and yelled at him out the window and they sped off.

Went out and saw he had cut through a pipe, but I caught him before it was taken. Gray newer extended cab pickup truck. Young person. A police report was filed.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

STORE ROBBERY: The 7-11 at 35th/Avalon was robbed just after midnight, according to a brief report summary from Seattle Police. It says the store was held up by multiple people, at least one armed with a handgun; no descriptions in the summary, but we have requested more info from SPD and will add it if/when we get it.

PACKAGE TAKEN: Via email:

Had a package stolen from our porch (Wednesday) at 8:20 am. Looks like it may be teenagers in an older Honda Ridgeline. Hope a parent can see this and maybe stop future behavior. This was at California/Brandon. SPD (incident #) 2022-902092.

From Tommy:

My 1999 Honda CR-V was stolen in front of my house on Tuesday morning at roughly 2 am. I’m guessing they had a set of “jingle keys” that were used to open it and then start it.

I would love to find it. The car was parked in the 1600 block of 42nd Avenue SW.

It is a 1999 forest-green CR-V with tinted windows. It also had a rear bike rack and basket roof rack, but they are both easily removable.

License # BZF2536.

Call 911 if you see it.

That catalytic converter was “hanging by a thread” when Edgar photographed it near his house at 42nd and Brandon. He’s the guy who, as reported here in October, literally kicked a would-be catalytic-converter thief out from under his own car. Early today, 2:30 am-ish, Edgar says, his wife scared off the people trying to make off with the one in the photo. When he emailed us this afternoon, he and his neighbors hadn’t yet figured out whose car that is. But regarding catalytic-converter theft in general, Edgar says, “This has got to stop.”

So here’s what’s being done at the state level: We noted earlier this month that four bills addressing catalytic-converter theft have been introduced in the State Legislature session that began earlier this month. The city of Seattle is advocating for HB 1815, which has more than two dozen co-sponsors, including West Seattle’s 34th District State House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon. From the bill text (which you can read in its entirety here):

The legislature finds that rates of catalytic converter theft have rapidly increased statewide and nationwide, due in part to existing challenges with accurately identifying stolen catalytic converters. The legislature further finds that victims of catalytic converter theft often incur costs that far exceed the monetary value of the catalytic converters themselves. The legislature further finds that catalytic converter theft is a multifaceted issue that requires collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, scrap metal dealers, and other involved parties to identify comprehensive solutions.

Therefore, the legislature intends to establish a pilot project to mark catalytic converters with unique, permanent identifiers, thereby enabling law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and scrap metal dealers to more effectively track the ownership of catalytic converters and identify stolen property. The legislature further intends to gather and utilize data from the pilot project to inform additional efforts to address catalytic converter theft in Washington state. The legislature further intends to establish a task force with the goal of developing effective tools and methods for deterring catalytic converter theft, identifying and recovering stolen catalytic converters, and lowering costs to victims of catalytic converter theft.

The pilot project would be overseen by the State Patrol and would focus on “vehicles that are most frequently targeted for catalytic converter theft …” The WSP would have to provide a report on the pilot project by October of next year. Meantime, the task force would be established with members including legislators, law enforcers, judges, reps from the scrap-metal and recycling industries, plus “two members representing individuals with lived experience being charged with, or convicted of, organized theft.”

Last week, West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold testified in support of HB 1815 at a legislative hearing. She wrote about it in her weekly online/email update and mentioned it during yesterday’s council-briefing meeting. Herbold also is advocating for a repeal of the state law that says only the state can regulate scrap-metal processors, recyclers, and suppliers.

HB 1815 has been referred to the state House Public Safety Committee, which is expected to review it in executive session this Thursday. As for the other three bills, SB 5495 had a hearing today; the other two – HB 1873 and HB 1994 – have been referred to committees and are awaiting action.

Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

WEST BAY BREAK-IN: Just as West Bay Coffee and Smoothies worked to recover from weather damage, with community help, they got hit by crime. The image and report were sent by proprietor Jennifer West:

After all the trouble with our year starting out, the new storage shed that we got funded by the community lasted 3 hours and is already been broken into. Here’s the burglar vehicle, no plates.

We’ll add the incident number when we get it.

STREET ROBBERY: From weekend SPD summaries – a sale arranged online led to a holdup in person. Police say they were called to Delridge/Edmunds just after 9 pm Saturday. The victim told them he had arranged via Facebook Marketplace to buy a phone from someone. The person who showed up “brandished a silver handgun and stole victim’s cell phone and wallet,” then took off on foot, southbound. The summary does not include a description.

Four short reader reports tonight:

STOLEN CAR: Missy lives in Arbor Heights. Her car was stolen on Capitol Hill. In case it winds up here – or you see it off-peninsula – here’s what to watch for:

It’s a white Chevy Sonic, flat black rims, plate #BUE0342, stolen Friday night. Call 911 if you see it.

PACKAGE TAKEN: The security-camera image and report were sent by Charles:

This morning at 9:48 this lady stole a package from our front door in the Admiral District; please advise neighbors to be on the lookout.

TENNIS-COURT DAMAGE: The photo and report were sent by Brian:

The net on one of the (Lincoln Park) courts was recently cut out. I played yesterday 1/22/22 and noticed the damage.

Note that if you see damage, whether vandalism or not, at a city park facility, you can report it at 206-684-7250.

DRIVE-BY VANDALISM: A reader sent this early today: “Some teens are going around West Seattle egging houses. They are driving an old silver Ford Explorer.” Yes, that’s vandalism, as we’ve discussed here over the years – it can cause damage that you can’t just clean off, for one.

Two reader reports:

FOUR BICYCLES STOLEN: From Graeme:

My wife and I live close to The Junction (40th and Oregon) and we discovered (Friday) that we had four bikes stolen. Someone went through our gate and broke into our shed.

Could you please report this and ask people to keep an eye out for these bikes, and to contact me if they’re found anywhere?
– Giant TCR road bike, white, size L
– Liv Avail road bike, gray, size L
– Jamis Quest road bike, blue, 60cm
– Jamis Renegade S4 gravel bike, gray, 58cm

Contact: Graeme, gtruschel@gmail.com

FOUND BIKE: Danielle in North Delridge says this Specialized bicycle was dumped in her yard this morning:

If it’s yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.

Last night’s Westwood Village standoff began just as we were starting to write this story about the sentencing hearing Friday for someoone involved in another one there almost one year ago. So we’re reporting this a day later than planned.

(WSB photo, February 2021)

What happened in February 2021 was a different type of standoff: It started with two burglars breaking into shops in the heart of the center. Police arrived and arrested one of them relatively quickly; the other one was considered possibly armed, so the SWAT team was called, and a three-hour standoff ensued, ending with the second arrest. Back in September, we reported on the plea bargain of one of the burglars, Jerry Plute Jr., and noted that one was in the works for the other, Rafael Meyers.

On Friday, Meyers was sentenced for a plea bargain that included two other burglaries in which he’d been charged, May 2020 at the Peel & Press restaurant in Morgan Junction, and August 2019 at a business in Auburn. As part of the agreement, a fourth charge, for a September 2020 burglary at a KFC in Shoreline, was dismissed. For all three of the burglaries to which he pleaded guilty, Meyers got an alternative sentence from King County Superior Court Judge Josephine Wiggs-Martin, as recommended by prosecutors and defense – residential drug treatment for up to six months, as part of DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative). He’ll also be on two years of probation (community custody) provided he stays out of trouble. His lawyer’s report to the judge said that Meyers, who is 35, has “struggled with an opioid addiction for many years (and) has recently come to terms with his need for treatment after a long period of resistance to acknowledging the depth of his chemical dependency.” His treatment was to begin immediately, with a progress hearing set in April. (Plute’s sentence, as ordered back in September, was a year in jail, suspended providing he stays out of trouble.)

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MYSTERY STABBING: Shortly before 3 this morning, police say, they got a report of a stabbing victim in the Home Depot parking lot, and found the victim “a block away at a gas station” with a stab wound to his left arm. However, police add, the victim “would not. provide specific details about the incident,” and they couldn’t find evidence of a scene. The victim, they say, “stated reeatedly that he did not want to ‘press charges’.” Nor did he want SFD to take him to a hospital; according to the police summary, he “opted to self-transport to Harborview for treatment.”

CATALYTIC CONVERTER STOLEN: Via text: “Our catalytic converter was stolen in 1700 block Alki Ave SW. 2007 Hyundai Tucson. Between the 14th & today. (We don’t drive often).”

PACKAGE THEFT #1: From Ted:

I watched this woman park and scope out three of my neighbor’s porches on 46th off Admiral around 10:30 am. I confronted her when I saw her take a package. She initially said she lived in that house then admitted she didn’t but said she lived in the neighborhood. Then she dropped the package and ran. Sadly I didn’t get a good picture of her but did of the car.

Unfortunately she removed the license plate prior to the prowl.

PACKAGE THEFT #2: From Monte:

3:17 am Tuesday morning, thief left a half-eaten creamsicle in exchange for my package. Dark-skinned male, around 6 feet, average/slender build. Winter coat with a fur-lined collar, flat-brimmed ball cap with the sticker still on it.

The package contained replacement straws for a water bottle.

Recognize either of these?

WESTWOOD: Abandoned next to V‘s home:

FAUNTLEROY: Dumped in the driveway at M‘s home:

If either of these might be yours, email us and we’ll connect you to the finder:

From SPD Blotter, word that someone was shot in Highland Park last night. Usually a large SFD response follows shootings and that’s how we find out, but in this case, the victim showed up at a hospital, driven there by a friend, and police pieced together what happened. From their post:

Around 2 AM, the victim was reportedly standing near 8th Avenue SW and SW Cloverdale Street when he became involved in a brief altercation with two people.

The victim later got into his car and saw the suspects drive past him and open fire, striking the victim in the leg. …

Detectives are investigating. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

For real-time 911 log watchers, the “scenes of violence” response for this is logged to the address for the VA Hospital on Beacon Hill – that’s where the victim was taken by his friend, and SFD then transferred him to Harborview.