West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
11:16 AM: Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
CAR PROWLS: From Debbie:
Last night (1:55 am) was a pretty active night in our neighborhood. We heard car of young men go through, a loud bang that we thought was a window breaking; but have no description of car or occupants. There is evidence they were in cars from 37th & Cloverdale to 39th & Thistle, hitting Sullivan Street between 37th & 39th as well. They took a set of golf clubs out of one car & tossed them along a one-block path.
BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Matt:
Our doorbell camera caught this woman trying to break into our house (Tuesday) in the Alaska Junction. The door was locked so all that she got away with was a watering can and a plant from our deck.
ADDED 11:52 AM: One more report that just came in:
STOLEN BICYCLE: From Jake near California/Holly:
Want to give my neighbors a heads up – my locked bicycle was stolen out of our backyard early Tuesday AM (8/27). Particularly unnerving because it was very much out of sight within a fenced yard. I feel we were cased as the thief had to bring in some serious bolt cutters to cut the locking cable. Please be on the lookout for a metallic green TREK Mountain bike with twin black saddlebag/ panniers and rear rack.
The results of the newest annual Seattle Public Safety Survey – conducted by Seattle University for SPD – are out. Top concerns of respondents are listed citywide, by precinct, and by “microcommunity” (aka neighborhood with a community group that has participated in development of policing plans). Here are the Southwest Precinct-area highlights:
The survey summary says 706 people in the Southwest Precinct area – West Seattle and South Park – completed the survey; demographically, the summary notes, “Compared to Seattle demographics, survey respondents [from this precinct area] were disproportionately more likely to be non-minority and female.” The report summarizes:
The top public safety concerns for the Southwest Precinct are Car Prowls, Lack of Police Capacity, Property Crime- General, Residential Burglary, and Auto Theft.
Southwest Precinct slightly differs from the citywide top public safety concerns, which were Car Prowls, Lack of Police Capacity, Homelessness, Property Crime, and Residential Burglary; for residents in the Southwest Precinct, Auto Theft was a top public safety concern over Homelessness, which was a top public safety concern in the citywide findings.
The most prominent themes residents in the Southwest Precinct commented on in their narrative responses were Lack of Police Capacity, Homelessness is a Public Safety, and Public Health Issue, Crime- Public Order, Crime- Property, and Crime- Traffic/Pedestrian/Bike/Transit. In comparison with the citywide themes, which were Homelessness, Lack of Police Capacity, Public Order Crime, Property Crime, and Police being Prevented from Doing their Job, themes prioritized by residents in the Southwest Precinct were Crime- Traffic/Pedestrian/Bike/Transit, which was a concern over the citywide theme (that) police are being prevented from doing their jobs. At the micro-community level, top public safety concerns, prominent themes, and perceptions of public safety are similar to the precinct as a whole. However, some micro-communities differ from the others (e.g. unsafe driving/speeding in Alki, littering/dumping and gang activity in South Park).
You can read the entire report here.
Just sent by Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner, another of the occasional notifications that a Level 3 sex offender has moved into a local neighborhood:
In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about one level 3 sex offender that has recently moved into a Southwest Precinct neighborhood.
Joaquin Garcia, a 38 year old Hispanic Male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 1800 Block of SW Dawson St. Mr. Garcia is currently under Department of Corrections supervision.
To learn more about this offender and for additional safety tips please visit the website at www.waspc.org and search by his name. [Editor’s note: Here’s a direct link to the page with his photo and background information.]
To register to receive an email alert whenever a published offender registers within one mile of your desired addresses, go to this website.
Level 3 sex offenders pose the highest risk to re-offend. It is normal to feel upset, angry and worried about a registered sex offender living in your community. The Community Notification Act of 1990 requires sex offenders to register in the community where they live. The law also allows local law enforcement to make the public aware about Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Since these offenders have completed their sentences, they are free to live where they wish. Experts believe sex offenders are less likely to re-offend if they live and work in an environment free of harassment. Any actions taken against the listed sex offenders could result in arrest and prosecution as it is against the law to use this information in any way to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders. The SPD Sex offender detectives will check on these offenders every 3 months to verify our information.
The single most effective means of protecting your child is communication with your child. They have to feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with you. Teach your children that they should not be asked to touch anyone in the bathing suit areas of their body or allow anyone to touch them in those areas. Teach them types of situations to avoid. It is not good enough to tell a child to avoid strangers. Please remember that children are most often molested by someone they or their parents know.
Other questions? This FAQ might help.
(Saturday photo, sent by Kenneth)
We found out more today about a case of line-cutting that led to an arrest on the Fauntleroy ferry dock Saturday afternoon. WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling says it started around 2 pm with someone who got cut off reacting very intensely. A third person a few cars back, according to the police report, drew a gun to try to defuse the situation. That didn’t really help. A tollbooth attendant called police, and ultimately the person who drew the gun was arrested; the line-cutter apparently left the scene. No injuries reported; the ferry at the dock at the time was slightly delayed because the captain opted to hold off until everything was sorted out. Sterling tells us that August is peak time for line-cutting complaints, which have been on the rise in general – the state’s special hotline for ferry-line cutting had 2,000 calls in 2017, 2,400 last year, and is on pace to likely exceed that this year. Mukilteo and Edmonds generally bring in the most complaints – for example, 39 last August in Fauntleroy, compared to about 200 in Mukilteo. You can report line-cutting to 877-764-HERO – it’s a $139 fine.
P.S. Back to Saturday’s case – records show the 68-year-old man was arrested for investigation of “use of a weapon to intimidate,” and that after two days in jail, he’s being released today.
The photos and report are from Stanley:
I had both of my motorcycles stolen from my secure parking spot in the Element 42 Apartment building, 2641 42nd Ave SW. I am a tenant there. Incident number 2019 – 315455
The theft happened August 18, 2:45 AM. At 2:07 AM, a man in a black and white Helly Hanson hoodie approaches the front door (Person 1). He goes to work with a pry bar. He gains entry by 2:12:19
2:13 AM, Person 1 forces entry into the first floor south hallway next to the office. This is that last I saw of Person 1.
2:45:25 AM, two men are seen leaving the garage with my motorcycles. I don’t think that Person 1 is either of these individuals. The guy in black on my Harley has different shoes than Person 1. The person pushing my dirtbike appears to be of a slighter build than Person 1, but they could be the same person, I just don’t know.
I think Person 1 has two tool bags with him. He has what is possible a Bellevue High duffel bag under his right arm, and he appears to have something on like a backpack under his hoodie. I think this because of his big humpie back in image “Capture 2”.
Stolen:
2006 Harley Davidson FXDWGI – Dyna Wide Glide, Yellow
2017 KTM 500 EXC-F, Orange
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN SCOOTER: From Garrett:
Make/model: 2018 Honda Metropolitan
Color: Dark blue body, beige seat
License: 9F5337It was stolen from the 3500 block of Walnut Ave SW.
Call 911 if you see it.
MAIL THEFT: Jim reports this happened last night in the 3500 block of SW 100th:
Our mailbox (which is a locking mailbox- see attached) was pried open with some sort of a tool (screwdriver I assume?) and our mail was stolen. Our neighbors said they heard a commotion around 3am and saw an SUV pull up and then pull away a minute or two later. It looks like they attempted to hit several of the mailboxes in the cluster of mailboxes (and items were taken from mailboxes that do not have locking mechanisms.)
The neighbor also reported that he saw the person/persons walking up to doors of the homes in the area to see if they were locked. I guess it all happened so quickly he did not have time to call the police.
In the last 3 months, our car (in an off-street carport) was broken into as well and several items were taken.
A hit-run crash in Morgan Junction back on Tuesday led to this message from Heather:
I wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who came to my aid after a car accident on 8/20 on California Ave and Graham. Within a few seconds of the crash, I had around 20 people holding my hand, comforting me, helping me in any way they could. It was absolutely amazing and I am truly overwhelmed by your kindness and care. This incident, while it hurt my body and my car, brought comfort to my heart and increased my love for the WS community. Thank you for all you did for me. It means more than you know.
Also, if anyone knows where the it and run driver is, please contact me. It was a 2000’s model Toyota Camry, maroon, with heavy front-end damage. He left the scene at high speed and turned west on to Fauntleroy toward the ferry dock. I’m hoping a camera might have picked up a license plate number. If you have any info, please email me at hlhanson1975@gmail.com
Thank you!
Police incident # is 19-309656.
A reader sent that photo of a bicycle abandoned in the City View neighborhood. Yours? Let us know and we will connect you.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
SCOOTER STOLEN: From Ann:
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SCOOTER? DO YOU KNOW WHO THE THIEF IS? PLEASE CONTACT POLICE.
Stolen right out of the locked garage @ West Water condos, 6900 block of California Avenue SW, sometime in the late hours of Monday evening 8/19 to early morning 8/20.
Mini Sport Scooter
Make: ZLMI
Model: ROMA 150
Year: 2014
Color: Green with Black trim
HOME BURGLARIZED: A reader west of The Junction reports, “We had a break-in at our home (Wednesday) during the daytime. Appears to have removed screen on open backyard window. Trashed the bedroom and bathroom, taking money and a few bottles of prescription medication.”
Thanks to Chuck Edgin for the photo taken as police, including SWAT officers, wrapped up an arrest operation at 35th SW/SW Holly about an hour ago. Officers advised dispatchers afterward that it was a “warrant arrest” and that if anyone in the area reported hearing an explosion (as did Chuck), it was related to their operation. We haven’t yet been able to find out what the suspect was being sought for.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
PACKAGE THIEVES AT WORK RIGHT NOW: Just in from Marc near 35th/Cloverdale – thieves struck about half an hour ago: “Woman and two accomplices that appear male in a grey sedan with no front plate. Video:
Car and accomplices
Woman’s face
NEAR LINCOLN PARK: Nicole says car prowler(s) went through her husband’s car between midnight and 6 am near 46th SW and SW Austin:
They grabbed lots of stuff, but dumped much on the way from their walk from our house to the bus stop near the 76 gas station at the north end of Lincoln Park. Two things not recovered–two sets of golf clubs, one adult set of Cobras in a black bag with a Seahawks sock on the driver and one kid set in a red Wilson bag:
Since they seemed to be on foot, would love it if anyone seems them dumped somewhere or for sale online or at consignment. Also: a DVD wallet of kids’ movies and wireless headphones for the car DVD player.
I had my car broken in to on 30th Ave SW last night (August 19th-August 20th). Someone smashed in my front passenger side window, looted through my glovebox, and stole a phone charger. Thankfully I don’t keep anything of value in my car, but it also looks like other cars on the street were broken into last night.
No incident #’s yet for any of these cases but we’ll add them when we get them.
After we received a few questions about an incident early Saturday in The Junction; we followed up with Seattle Police today, and here’s what they told us: Just before 2 am Saturday, a caller reported “a possible domestic-violence disturbance in the alley behind his apartment building in the 4500 block of 44th Avenue SW,” with what looked to be a man and woman involved. Police continue:
The male pulled out a small handgun and appeared to be showing it off. He eventually handed it off to the female, who then discharged one round toward an unoccupied building across the alley. The shot occurred as officers were arriving in the area. Both subjects then entered the apartment building. Officers took up containment and a contact team was assembled. The apartment building was cleared floor by floor. Both parties were located on the rooftop patio and taken into custody without incident. The handgun was recovered from the male. The building did sustain bullet damage, and one spent round/casing were recovered. The male had a concealed pistol permit and was interviewed and released from SW precinct. The female was booked into King County Jail. There were no injuries.
A check of jail and court records shows the 32-year-old woman was released a short time ago after two days in jail.
From a reader on Puget Ridge:
Our white 1999 F250 was stolen from our driveway sometime between 9:45pm and 9:15am this morning. License plate is C73348J.
Call 911 if you see it.
Missing a Gary Fisher Tarpon bicycle? L found one, abandoned, “at Lincoln Park near Fauntleroy and Othello. Likely stolen.” Contact us if it might be yours and we’ll connect you.
A 32-year-old man is in jail today after a resident caught him trying to climb into his patio near California/Charlestown late last night. We requested and obtained the report, which says police got the call around 11:23 pm. Police arrived to find the victim following the suspect, with a baseball bat, southbound on California. Officers detained both until they sorted out what had happened. The victim explained that his dog alerted him to noise on the back patio; he said he walked out to find the suspect halfway over the fence. First he grabbed “a pellet gun resembling a rifle” and pointed it at the suspect, who he said dared him to shoot and then threatened to burn the house down. The suspect kept yelling and took off. When stopped, he claimed to police that he had had “a rough day,” had been in the alley collecting trash, and was just trying to get back to California SW to head toward Morgan Junction. Once the suspect was under arrest, the report says, investigating officers noted that the victim’s patio does not connect to California SW. The suspect was booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of criminal trespassing. Records show this is his third arrest in less than two months; the other two were for allegedly harassing/threatening people outside their homes in Morgan Junction, and the second report says he is a known troublemaker in that area.
ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: In the spirit of Block Watch, you might call this Bark Watch. Seattle Police Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner sent this announcement that they are launching a new program called Paws on Patrol:
You can help prevent crime while you are walking your dog!
Paws on Patrol encourages dog walkers to serve as extra eyes and ears for the Seattle Police Department.
This program trains pet owners to prevent crime, as well as recognize and report suspicious activity.
Get a free SPD Paws on Patrol dog tag when you join (while supplies last)!
The SW Precinct will be hosting the Paws on Patrol launch event on Saturday, September 21st at 10 am.
So if you are interested – save the date!
ADDED FRIDAY: A clarification from CPC Danner: “I have received a lot of inquiries about Paws on Patrol (yay!). Thank you everyone for your interest! Just wanted to clarify- at this time there is no link to join, please plan to attend the launch event on Saturday, September 21st, to join! I will send out more details as we get closer to the event!” This will be the first precinct to test the program, by the way. And yes, you AND your dog will be welcome at the September 21st meeting.
(WSB photo)
2:38 PM: Thanks for the tip about that big Seattle Police response near High Point Community Center. We subsequently went over to find out what’s happening. Police say the white car is stolen and they’ve taken one person into custody. That person’s being checked for possible injuries because the car was involved in a collision (our crew says it has extensive rear-end damage). A K9 team is on the way to help search for evidence after, according to a radio exchange, “a magazine” was reportedly found in the car.
2:45 PM: Seattle Parks just tweeted that HPCC is in lockdown because of this.
3:42 PM: Parks says the lockdown is over.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: A few more details, and a photo of the magazine, from SPD:
A parking enforcement officer was on patrol at 35 Avenue (SW) and SW Morgan Street at 2 PM when they spotted an occupied stolen vehicle parked nearby.
As patrol officers flooded the area, the vehicle’s occupant piloted the white Jetta out of the area, nearly striking a firetruck and running a stop sign in the process. The driver continued to speed away until he lost control and rolled the vehicle down a hill.
Police took the man into custody and following a search of the car recovered a handgun magazine. A K-9 was brought in to search for a firearm but none was located.
Officers booked the man into King County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and firearms violation because he is a convicted felon and prevented from having a handgun magazine.
10:11 AM: That’s Clayton‘s 2005 Honda Rebel motorcycle, stolen last night from the 9600 block of 17th SW. He emailed us in hopes you can “keep a lookout” for it. If you see it, call 911. P.S. Plate = 4F4235.
ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: Clayton says his motorcycle was spotted in the 10300 block of 24th Ave SW.
ADDED FRIDAY: As Clayton noted in a comment, he has his bike back!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:48 AM SUNDAY: An SDOT crew is being summoned for a cleanup on westbound Admiral Way near 37th SW for debris from a crash. Radio communication indicated a driver went into a yard and then left the scene on foot; police reportedly caught up with a suspect nearby, at 39th and Admiral.
UPDATE, MONDAY NIGHT: According to online records, the 20-year-old driver is under investigation for DUI and criminal hit-run.
Two stolen cars reported by readers: A Kia Spectra (added: tan color), plate AOZ1767, taken near Westwood Village on Friday afternoon, and a white Audi Q5 taken overnight from 47th/College (added: plate AXZ3291). If you see either, call 911.
From Shay near 60th/Stevens:
Wanted to report that we’ve had two things stolen from our apartment garages (fully locked unless you have a key or garage door opener to enter/someone leaves the garage open…). First happened at some point Monday night (noticed Tuesday morning) and they stole a $500 amplifier. (Wednesday) afternoon, we noticed that my husband’s $4,000 mountain bike (which was mounted and locked/chained up) was stolen, which we think happened at some point (Tuesday) night. Our assumption is that the people who stole the amplifier came back with a chain cutter/saw and stole the bike.
We’ve reported the above for the police, but wanted others to be aware that theft seems to be on the rise. Make sure your garage doors shut when you leave & be on high alert.
Thanks for the texted tip about multiple locker-room thefts at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) on Tuesday. One of the victims reports:
At least half a dozen lockers (Men’s) were broken into between 10:45-11:15 am at the West Seattle YMCA. Only wallets were stolen. Cell phones and other valuables were not taken. This was discovered rather quickly and most of us were able to cancel or put a hold on our cards. Cards were attempted to (be used) at QFC and Safeway near Alaska Junction as well as the Walgreens and gas station near 35th & Morgan.
The thefts were all included in one police report, which we requested and obtained this afternoon. It says the police have obtained security video showing five “males” (no further description) arriving outside the Y in a “white 4-door sedan.” They went into the Y at 10:56 am. Two started talking to desk staff; the other three walked toward the locker room. Less than 15 minutes later, all five left. There were at least six victims; police obtained some broken-lock fragments as evidence. Some of the victims were already getting “fraudulent activity” alerts from their banks/credit-card companies, so police followed a trail including, as mentioned above, the 35th/Morgan gas station and Walgreens. The suspects tried to buy $500 gift cards at the latter, the police report says, but were unsuccessful. We also asked Y executive director Shalimar Gonzales about the thefts; she says they’re working with police and “in the meantime have increased staff visibility in those spaces and added signage. We’re encouraging everyone to keep valuables at home or use our lockers in the cardio center.”
That’s a screenshot of one of the thieves who stole three surveillance cameras from West Seattle Christian Church in The Junction between 3 am and 6 am on July 25th. WSCC’s Worth Wheeler tells WSB, “From what we can tell there were 2 to 3 individuals involved and they went to quite a lot of effort to removed the cameras, even using a long bamboo pole, standing on our a-frame signs, and bringing one of those extendable gripping devices with a grabbing claw at the end.” Here are video clips showing some of their activity including the camera thefts:
Police have been notified; we don’t have a case # yet.\
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