Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN PICKUP: Jon reports the theft of a white 2004 Ford Ranger in Fauntlee Hills this morning. The only photo is this one from a security camera, before the pickup was taken:

We do not have the plate # yet but the police-report # is 20-347214. Call 911 if you see this or any other known stolen vehicle.

PACKAGE THEFT: From Shelby:

I live in the Roxhill neighborhood, on 30th Ave SW. We had someone steal the package off our doorstep at 12:04 am today. The person’s face was fully covered with a bandana and they had gloves on. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a good photo.

Reminder to consider staying up a little later if a package hasn’t yet arrived on its scheduled time. Hope this person likes a nice pepper grinder and food scale.

We can vouch for the late-night delivery alert, after a recent 10:35 pm FedEx arrival – ’tis the season.

(WSB photo, Sunday)

We reported last Sunday on a hit-run crash at California/Hanford that sent a bicycle rider to the hospital. Today, the rider’s family is circulating video they hope will bring in a tip leading to the driver’s arrest:

As shown at the end of the video, the “best guess” is that it’s a Toyota van, 1998-2003, with running boards and a white separator between the front and rear passenger-side windows. Meantime, we asked the family how the rider, Sean, is doing: “He was literally run over so we are very lucky that doctors found no organ damage, but he will need several surgeries. He just successfully underwent the first surgery on Monday. We are just happy he is alive. We just want to ensure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.” If you have any information, contact police and refer to case 20-342638.

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

CAR BREAK-IN: From Ashley:

My husband’s car was broken into early Tuesday morning sometime between 2 am and 6 am. We live on 48th right behind Aegis. It was parked in our driveway but unfortunately he accidentally left it unlocked. They destroyed the ignition when they were trying to steal his car. After that failed, they grabbed what they could including his gym bag out of the trunk. Even though it’s a long shot, we’re hoping it might have been dumped somewhere. It’s a small black duffle bag with red trim and strap and has a cobra on it in white.

If you find it, let us know and we will connect you.

ANOTHER CAR BREAK-IN: From Jozie:

In the early hours of Tuesday, December 15, there was a car break-in on 39th and Stevens in the Admiral Junction. The “grinch” stole EVERYTHING in the vehicle. Please be advised that the thief was able to disable the car alarm in a way so that it did not activate. Also, a neighbor had a package stolen off their front porch during that same time frame. ’Tis the season. :/

SPEAKING OF PACKAGE THEFT: This photo and report are from Nancy:

I live in the 2200 block of upper Alki. This person stole my Amazon package at 5:35 pm Dec.15th. He looks like ha is dragging some heavy objects. Maybe other homes got hit as well. Anyway, hopefully he enjoys his 2021 Star Trek Original Series wall calendar.

In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning, notes on auto thefts, spiking lately in our area:

STOLEN RED CR-V: From Codie:

My 1998 Honda CR=V was stolen. It’s red – a dull red. Sometime between midnight and 6 AM. This will be the third time I’ve had a car stolen from my driveway. The plates are different; not sure the number, I just got them replaced. The back passenger triangle window is not clear, and the front bumper has a tear in it. 4th Ave SW near 100th.

TRUCK-THEFT UPDATES: Both of the stolen pickup trucks mentioned here last Friday are still missing at last report. Alyssa, daughter of the silver Ford F-350’s owner, says they’ve had numerous sightings in West Seattle and White Center. And we’ve heard from the owner of the gold Chevrolet stolen while he was at Admiral Safeway – he added more info and clarified that the boat was in the truck, not on a trailer. Call 911 ASAP if you see either of these or any other known stolen vehicle.

Reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT, AGAIN: This report is from Darin:

I started up my 2008 Prius this morning and it was really loud and I instantly knew the catalytic converter had been stolen based on all the WSB reports. I looked under the car and sure enough it was gone, wires were clipped and some tubing was left on the ground. I wanted to let you know so that WSB can keep reporting on these thefts. We are near Andover and 35th Ave SW. It will cost more to replace it than the car is worth so I have no idea what to do with the car now. It is definitely a huge bummer.

After that first note, Darin emailed to say another Prius owner nearby may have been hit too.

HOW COMMON IS IT? Recently we published a note from another victim of catalytic-converter theft, Katie, who sent this followup note: “The Toyota dealer told me they’ve replaced 500 stolen catalytic converters in the last month!”

CAR PROWLER: Jillian says this happened early Saturday:

My car was rifled through at 12:30 am in my driveway on a side street near Riverview Park. (Unfortunately, I accidentally left my wallet in the car after a hard day with my 4-year-old.) After picking through my car, he walked along 16th SW headed to 7-11, dumping my things. I was able to find some things following his trail. He made a purchase at the 7-11 before catching the bus and heading into White Center to make more purchases before I discovered that my wallet did not come into the house.

2 pickup-truck thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

STOLEN PICKUP REPORTED NEAR JUNCTION: Shown in that photo is a silver 4-door Ford F-350, bought by Alyssa‘s dad yesterday and stolen hours later from the Southcenter shopping-mall parking lot. Here in West Seattle, she explains, “It was spotted this morning on a friend’s security camera where the thieves were trying to steal another car and stole a bunch of their neighbors’ packages.” Here’s a grab from that video:

Maybe it’s still in the area, so she’s asking you to be on the lookout. The truck has “a black front tow kit, black fender flares and it had a black tool box in the trunk.”

PICKUP THEFT REPORTED AT GAS STATION: We’re checking on the status of this one, since we haven’t heard directly from the victim, but we heard this via police radio this morning: A 1985 gold Chevrolet pickup was reported stolen from a customer who was doing business at Admiral Chevron (California/Admiral). It was described as having a trailer with a small boat, and a plate starting with C153. SUNDAY UPDATE: The owner contacted us with more information – the boat was actually in the pickup bed, not on a trailer; the boat has “Lily Ann” on its back. The truck also had a black canopy; its full plate is C15345B

If you see either one or any other known/suspected stolen vehicle, call 911.

Five items to report in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STORE ATTACK: An angry customer choked and threatened an employee who went outside the High Point Walgreens to empty trash cans on Wednesday night. Police were told the suspect usually visits the store to buy cigarettes once or twice a week, but that night didn’t have ID with him, nor did his mother, who was accompanying him. They left the store a few minutes later with other purchases, and minutes later the employee was attacked; he told police the attacker said, “I’m gonna kill you the next time I see you” and then left in a vehicle. The victim declined medical help.

CAMP ARREST: A 37-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday at Camp Second Chance for investigation of malicious harassment after a clash with other residents that police say involved racial slurs. She was accused of forcing her way into another tiny house at the camp, pushing one of its residents and calling him a racial slur. Police were told she then continued to wander around the encampment, assaulting two more residents. She was arrested and booked into King County Jail, from which she was released today.

THREATENED IN NORTH DELRIDGE: A resident reports:

(Tuesday) around 4:30 pm, I stepped out to walk the dog near Nevada St. and 26th Ave SW. and noticed an unfamiliar man had made himself at home on my neighbor’s covered porch. My husband and I approached him and asked him to leave when he pulled out a long aluminum tube and threatened us with it. After a few minutes, my husband was able to get him to unplug his radio, pick up his belongings and leave. He proceeded to walk up the street knocking down garbage cans and striking things along the way with the tube in his hand.

A police report was filed.

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Katie emailed to say hers was stolen Tuesday night. She didn’t say where but did add, “The tow truck driver said mine was the *7th* tow for this in two weeks, all in West Seattle.”

MISSING AN EMERGENCY KIT? Bill discovered this in his Upper Fauntleroy rockery on Wednesday:

Car prowlers hit his neighborhood the night before, but it didn’t belong to those victims, so maybe it’s from a prowl elsewhere. If you recognize it, let us know.

Last week in West Seattle Crime Watch, we published a short SPD “Significant Incident Report” summary about an alleged hate-crime incident that ultimately involved SWAT officers. Today, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that a felony charge is filed against the suspect in the case, 34-year-old Keeley A. Brown. Both Brown and the victim are described in court documents as residents of the microhousing building where it happened, near 35th/Avalon, the night of December 1st. The victim said Brown confronted her while she was cleaning up items in a common area and called her a “terrorist” as well as a racial slur, telling her “go back to your country” and adding that people like the victim are why gun rights are needed. Brown then allegedly hit the victim in the head with a crock-pot lid. Another resident told police that Brown had long been harassing other residents, sometimes with racial slurs, but that they believed nothing could be done because of the current eviction moratorium. Brown went into her apartment before police arrived and would not come out; a two-hour standoff ensued, ending with SWAT officers entering Brown’s apartment to arrest her. Court documents say Brown, released from jail the next day on personal recognizance, has no criminal record. She is charged with one count of what is now statutorily described as a “hate-crime offense.”

SIDE NOTE: This is another category of crime that’s been on the rise this year. The day before this incident, the KCPAO held a media briefing about hate crime, saying they had already filed charges in 51 cases this year, compared to 38 last year and 30 in 2018.

Be on the lookout for Grayson‘s stolen motorcycle:

Wanted to report my vintage motorcycle was stolen next to Fairmount Park Elementary. I live in the buildings next to the school and my 1982 Honda C70 Passport was stolen on Saturday.

If you see it, call 911. (added) SPD report # is 2020-335930.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch items tonight:

HATE-CRIME ARREST: From the SPD Significant Incident Reports file:

On 12-01-2020 at 2142 hours, officers were dispatched to a hate crime offense at an apartment complex in the area of 35 Av SW and SW Avalon Way. The complainant was calling to report that a tenant there had assaulted another tenant in the common area of the building and had also been calling the victim racial and derogatory names. Officers arrived on scene and developed probable cause for a hate crime. The suspect had returned to her apartment and refused to open the door for officers. The Hostage Negotiation Team was called to the scene, several CIT officers were on scene, and a search warrant was applied for while officers attempted to convince the suspect to leave her apartment. Ultimately, the warrant was signed and SWAT assisted in forcing entry to the apartment. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and booked into the King County Jail.

We don’t know the suspect’s status yet. Meantime – hate crimes are another category of crime that’s up this year, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which said earlier this week that it’s filed charges in 51 hate-crime cases this year, compared to 38 last year, and 30 in 2018.

PACKAGE THEFT: From Monica:

We had some packages stolen off our front porch (Monday) afternoon off 46th Ave SW & Hudson. We have video from our front door camera. Sounds like he may have hit several houses in the area … A good reminder to grab packages quickly. They were not out there long, but he was obviously scouting the area.

Other neighbors caught that he was driving a white van – seemingly alone. He was driving and hopping out of the van to grab packages.

A police report was filed. (P.S. As we got ready to publish this, a White Center community-group crime briefing also featured discussion of a white van involved in package thefts.)

(Sunday’s arrest scene – WSB photo by Patrick Sand)

Three days after a man was shot while driving in an Alki alley, the suspect arrested shortly afterward is charged. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 35-year-old Garrett R. Heinemann with first-degree assault and first-degree burglary. The charging documents confirm that the victim is a neighbor of the suspect, in the same block of 60th SW where the shooting happened; the victim moved to Alki, from California, just two weeks ago. He told police he had never seen Heinemann before the shooting, which happened shortly after he left his apartment to drive somewhere to get coffee. He told police the suspect stepped out in front of his car in the alley, stopped him, and then told him to put his hands up, so the victim thought it was a robbery – but without saying anything else, he said, the suspect opened fire. Police say five bullets were fired into the victim’s front windshield, and six into the rear passenger-side window; 10 casings were found around his car.

(SPD photo, Sunday)

Minutes after the shooting, the charging documents say, Heinemann walked into a nearby apartment and attacked one of the two people who were inside; they managed to escape, and he fled out a window. The documents don’t have any information about a possible motive, noting that Heinemann refused to talk with detectives. As we previously reported, and as is noted in the charging documents, he has no criminal history. The charging documents say the gun Heinemann is accused of using, a .40-caliber pistol found at Alki Beach Park, is one that he has owned for eight years, and that he has a concealed-weapons permit. He remains in King County Jail, bail set at half a million dollars. Harborview Medical Center told us Tuesday that the victim had improved to satisfactory condition, though the charging documents note he faces additional surgery.