Another Morgan Junction business burglary. The report is from Subway proprietor Faraz, who hopes you’ll watch for one particular potentially dumped item:

I wanted to report that the Subway sandwich shop on California Ave SW was broken into last night around 2 am and the cash drawer was ripped out from the POS and taken. It did not have any cash in it so may I ask if anyone sees it discarded on a street somewhere, to please let me know?

The perpetrator turned off the main electric breaker to the building on the outside so it would be completely dark and then threw a rock through the back door to smash it and get in.

We don’t leave any cash in our drawers overnight and even though we have had upward of 20 burglaries of a similar fashion in the past year at our Subway shops in the West Seattle, White Center, Georgetown areas, this was the first time someone actually took the cash drawer.

(No surveillance images due to the power cut, Faraz says.) We’ll add the incident number when we get it.

12:10 PM: Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

RECOGNIZE THESE BURGLARS? The Southwest Precinct is circulating those images, asking for help identifying burglars who broke into the lobby at an apartment building in the 6500 block of California SW at 5:30 am last Saturday (February 20). Police say the burglars “left at 5:43 carrying several items from the storage units and pushing two bicycles.” If you have tips on who these are, you can contact the investigating detective at 206-256-6821 and refer to incident 21-043068.

And a first-person reader report:

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THIEVES HIT 2 MORE ELEMENTS: Sometime early this morning, thieves took the catalytic converters from our 2004 Honda Element and that of a similar-vintage Element down our street in Upper Fauntleroy. It was sometime after we went off watch around 3 am; another neighbor reports hearing a “metal-grinding” noise around 4 am. So how do you know your catalytic converter has been stolen? As others have noted, trying to start a car without this piece of equipment generates an obnoxiously loud noise (noxious odor, too). As high-ticket as these items are reported to be (we haven’t taken it in yet so don’t have an estimate), SPD told us these thefts can be reported online, unless you have video or a witness. (It’s a clunky process – we’ve done it before for car prowls and a bike theft – so allot 10-15 minutes.) Our most-recent reader reports of catalytic-converter thefts/attempts: Last Sunday, an Element in Pigeon Point and Prius on Beach Drive; a few days before that, an Element southwest of The Junction.

ADDED 1:17 PM: Minutes after publishing that, while embarking on a neighborhood walk, we saw this in a curbside gutter about two blocks from HQ:

No way to know if it’s ours; only mark we could see without picking it up is “Made in USA” (Elements are, partly). Did find an interesting video while looking online for visuals. (UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters who note that our photo shows a muffler, not a catalytic converter.)

ADDED 2:16 PM: At least one more Element catalytic converter was stolen overnight – Tami emailed us to say thieves took the one from her 2005 Element parked in front of her house in Upper Morgan.

ADDED 7:14 PM: And we’ve heard from yet another recent theft victim, who called us to report that her Element’s catalytic converter was taken during the day Friday near California/Holly in Morgan Junction.

Two more West Seattle Crime Watch notes today:

ARBOR HEIGHTS EARLY-MORNING SWAT RESPONSE: Some questions this morning about a SWAT response in Arbor Heights, near California/100th. The CSI vehicle above was still there when we went by at midmorning but the only officers we found were plainclothes detectives who told us they could not speak with media. So far the only information we have been able to found out is that it involved a warrant from outside the Southwest Precinct.

STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Henry:

We noticed our bike was stolen today. It was locked to the staircase and the lock chain was cut open. It’s a pink Specialized Sirrus 2.0. Must have happened in the last few days, we’ve been home and didn’t hear anything.

This happened in the 6600 block of SW Admiral Way and has been reported to police.

10:34 AM: Above, that’s Lauren‘s 2010 4Runner, stolen around 1:30-2 am in the Roxhill area. Beefy and lifted. Plate 194ZRE. Call 911 if you see it. (UPDATE: Found.)

ADDED 11:47 AM: Another stolen-vehicle report just in via email:

Wesley says this pickup was stolen “from Admiral District on Wednesday night. 2017 Ram 1500 w/ Karavan Utility 5×12 trailer. Truck has full-width, black “EVO” pad on tailgate for carrying bikes. 2″ lift, knobby Cooper A/T tires. Truck plate is C80179U – trailer plate is 5235QJ.”

Two more catalytic-converter crimes reported by readers today:

21ST/GENESEE: Zack emailed to say, “I caught someone in the act of stealing the catalytic converter from my wife’s Honda Element this morning- he was cutting it off with a power tool that woke us up. This happened at 5:00 am at 21st + Genesee. Suspect walked south on 21st, then a car with no headlights on followed him – most likely they were working together. The police showed up right away …” The incident number is 21-045060.

BEACH DRIVE: We also heard this morning from Davis: “I am reporting a stolen Catalytic Converter from a Prius. It happened Sunday night from the 5000 block of Beach Drive. The car was parked on the street.”

(It’s a nationwide problem, the NY Times reported recently. Prevention advice is at the end of this report we published last fall.)

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, two reader reports and two followups:

STOLEN CAR: From Kim:

My son’s car was stolen today for the second time this month! And it had a club on it and it’s a stick shift. We thought being manual would be a deterrent, but guess not. Luna Park area. 2003 red Subaru Impreza Outback BUZ 7132

Call 911 if you see it. (11:46 PM UPDATE: Found – see comment.)

PACKAGE THIEF: From Kyle:

We captured a porch thief on camera at our house (near 14th/Myrtle) at 3:19 am 2/17/21.

He stole a package of kids’ books that had been delivered at 11:34 pm that evening and was driving a silver sedan with front-door damage and the headlights off. A neighbor who found the empty box near 14th/Holly St this afternoon was kind enough to bring it back to tip us off. We just recently installed brighter driveway lights to try and deter thieves. … It appears it may be the same person who prowled our car on 12/12/20.

Police report # is 21-040361.

Also – updates tonight in two cases we’ve been reporting on:

MAIL-THEFT SUSPECT CHARGED: For the first time, repeat mail-theft suspect Jason A. Turner is facing felony charges. Two days after his latest arrest – third one this month – the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him today with four counts of possession of stolen mail. The charges cover thefts from residences along more than a mile of Delridge Way plus Myrtle, Juneau, and 23rd, but the investigation documentation also mentions victims on 25th, 26th, and Brandon – dozens of people, and hundreds of pieces of mail. As noted in our report Wednesday, a federal postal inspector is investigating him too. Turner remains in jail tonight, bail set at $2,500.

WESTWOOD VILLAGE BURGLARY SUSPECTS OUT: The two 34-year-old men arrested for allegedly breaking into Westwood Village stores on Wednesday are out of jail. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked for $10,000 bail on one, $1,000 the other; in both cases, law enforcement officially opposed their release. But Judge Lisa Paglisotti let both go on personal recognizance, and they were released tonight. That does not mean they won’t eventually be charged. Both have felony records including drug and vehicle-prowling cases. Earlier in the day, police released photos of the damage done to walls in three business spaces at Westwood, at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), Sport Clips, and the former Fresh Vitamins space on the building’s north side.

(SPD photo)

The SPD Blotter post also shows the gun police say was stolen from one of the businesses.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

STOLEN SUBARU: Reported via email:

Our neighbor’s car was stolen at about 10:30 pm on 2/17. It’s a 1990 Subaru Loyale. License WA 659YTG. Gatewood area.

Call 911 if you see it.

11:01 AM UPDATE: Per comment, it’s been found.

BUSINESS BURGLARY: Reported via text from owner Denise at Seattle Style Salon in Sunrise Heights:

I had a break in through the my back door at 12:21 on February 15th. The police arrived at around 2:00 am. Damaged the door, will need to be replaced. Not usable. Have had it boarded up. I believe the alarm scared the criminals and were only in a short time. Stole about $300-$400 in retail. I have reason to believe the were male do to the footprints left in the snow. Thought I would report so all the neighbors know. My back door has entry through an alley.

Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports today:

ANOTHER PHARMACY ROBBERY: Third one in West Seattle in five days – the Jefferson Square Bartell Drugs on Saturday, the Westwood Village Rite Aid on Monday, and today QFC in The Junction. We obtained the police report after a tip about the robbery. It happened around 9:30 this morning. There was one robber this time, described in the report as “a Black male, approximately 5’10 – 6’2, slim, wearing a black beanie, blue surgical mask, black puffy jacket, black pants, and black sneakers with white bottoms.” He pulled what looked like the handle of a gun and demanded Percocet. When an employee hesitated, he yelled, “Do you really want to die over Percocet?” He was given a bottle of pills and fled out the store’s front door. Security video showed it all lasted less than two minutes. Asked about the first two robberies at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Southwest Precinct Lt. Dorothy Kim said it’s believed these are part of a ring responsible for a “regional” series of holdups.

STOLEN CAR: The report and photo are from Angela:

My car was stolen from Holden qnd 35th Ave SW sometime between 10 pm and 8:30 am, case #2021-039912.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Angela has commented below to say her car’s been found.

(UPDATED 8:50 PM with Prosecuting Attorney’s Office information about past cases)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Last Thursday, we published a police alert about 37-year-old Jason A. Turner, who they describe as a “prolific mail thief” who focuses on North Delridge.

This morning he’s in jail again, after a second arrest in four days. Police say they objected to his release after Saturday’s arrest but he was let go Monday anyway – then arrested again on Tuesday.

According to the police-report narrative from Saturday’s arrest, officers spotted Turner “walking near Sylvan Way/Delridge Way” just after 3 pm. fitting the description of a suspect in two reports of mail theft that day. The report says he had pieces of mail stuffed into his clothing: “Without being asked, Turner stated he goes into mailboxes to get mail because he is looking for good things to sell.” Police say he was in possession of “14 total pieces from 3 different addresses, with 4 different names,” none of them his. That qualified as a potential felony (RCW 9A.56.370). After he was arrested and read his rights, the report adds, he told police “he was specifically looking for credit cards that people had applied for because he has had success using those in the past.” Turner was booked into jail but released Monday evening, without bail being set.

Then on Tuesday, according to SW Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman, officers arrested Turner again “after responding to a 911 call that he was stealing mail along 25th Ave SW (near SW Brandon St).” That was one of two calls, the first at 7:46 am, just 13 hours after he got out of jail. Capt. Grossman says one caller recognized the suspect from the photo we published last week. This time, police say, they recovered nearly 200 pieces of stolen mail.

Turner will likely have a first-appearance hearing today and police will again ask that he not be released on personal recognizance. They say the case that one detective will send to prosecutors includes a 2020 mail-theft case with ~20 victims, a more-recent case alleging mail theft and forgery with almost 50 victims, an attempted car prowl, plus these brand-new cases. Police also say another detective has been investigating a January mail-theft case. Records show no previous felony charges against Turner, but he has two open cases in which he’s been charged with misdemeanors.

What about federal charges for mail theft? you might wonder. Police say a USPIS Inspector also was called to the precinct to interview Turner before he wa taken to jail, where he’s been since just after 2 pm Tuesday.

This is his third arrest this month. After the first one, on February 3rd, prosecutors told police that they did not push to keep him in custody because a judge was unlikely to require bail given that it was a non-violent crime and that Turner had a “limited warrant history.” We have asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for comment on their policies – if commenting on this specific case is not possible – and will update this story when we hear back, as well as when we get word on what happens in court today.

5:46 PM: The jail register says bail was set for Turner today – $2,500. We also have received a response from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and will add that later this evening.

8:50 PM: KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney responded with information about Turner’s history as applies to their office, going back to 2017.

Read More

(Monday photo sent by Chuck)

A court hearing this afternoon yielded more information in the case against 47-year-old Brent D. Comer, arrested Monday and accused of hitting a pedestrian and three other vehicles while trying to escape police in a motorhome going downhill in reverse (here’s our original coverage). WSB policy is generally not to identify suspects before charges are filed; Comer is also being held on a warrant in a case in which he is charged, so we are publishing his name now. More on that shortly. A judge found probable cause today to hold Comer in this new case, but he did not appear in court, so bail will be addressed at a hearing tomorrow.

The probable-cause documents say an SPD sergeant was trying to pull over Comer after noticing that the RV’s registration had expired three years ago. At the time, the RV was westbound on West Marginal Way, heading toward Delridge. The sergeant had lights on and activated siren bursts, but the motorhome ran the light and headed southbound on Delridge, then westbound on Andover, before going into reverse, hitting a car, a pickup truck, and a tanker truck before coming to a stop. Police say Comer then bailed out of the motorhome and ran, but was caught nearby. They say they saw suspected black-tar heroin and needles in the RV, and that Comer later claimed he was headed to visit his girlfriend in Pigeon Point; before he was arrested, he approached a resident on Delridge and asked for a ride to her house. Probable-cause documents list his address as in Kirkland. That’s the same address on documents from charges filed against him in another case, involving an alleged assault on a former girlfriend in Redmond. Those charges are for assault and auto theft, saying he punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and stole her car in December 2018. The charging documents in that case note, “Since 2004, 5 different court venues have imposed 8 orders under 5 unique case numbers protecting 3 other women and 1 child from the defendant.” The warrant in that case is for failing to appear at a hearing. Back to the Monday incident in West Seattle – the injured pedestrian is expected to survive, according to an update just shared at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting that’s under way right now.

Another armed robbery at a West Seattle business, third one in three days: This one happened last night at 8:30 pm at the gas-station mini-mart in the 7800 block of Detroit Avenue SW. The initial police summary says only that there were two robbers and that the clerk was not hurt. Officers told dispatchers that both robbers were described as Black, male, and wearing dark clothing. We don’t know yet whether police are investigating possible links between any of the recent robberies.

Two West Seattle pharmacies have been robbed in the past three days. The first one happened around noon Saturday at Bartell Drugs in Jefferson Square. We haven’t been able to obtain the police report yet but a store employee told us via email that the robber was “an armed Black male, about 5’7”, in dark clothing and a medical mask.” We do have the initial police report on a robbery at 12:25 pm today at Rite Aid in Westwood Village, describing the two robbers there “as two Black males, thin build, 5’5″ and 5’10, both wearing dark clothing, and one carried a black Adidas gym bag. One displayed a handgun.” The report says the two “jumped the pharmacy counter and demanded oxycodone from the pharmacist.” They were given “an unknown amount of pills,” police say, and left. No arrests reported yet.

The photo and report are from John:

9:22 AM: Work truck stolen from 56th Ave SW and Jacobsen Rd at 6:15 this AM – 2/10/21. Vehicle headed north on Beach Drive. The “follow” car was a black or dark Subaru Forester. If seen, please contact John at 206-795-9202 and/or contact Seattle police [911] and reference case #21-34370.

7:34 PM: John says the truck’s been found on Pigeon Point.