West Seattle Crime Watch safety alert: Possible casing?

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox – a question about a note left on a door, followed by an alert about a suspicious sighting – read on:

The person who reported this asked to be anonymous:

Did anyone else in the Belvidere area have a note posted to their door about “curb painting” of house numbers taking place today, if desired, for a fee of $15?..

Sounds like another ruse used by bad guys.

Meanwhile, about 11:20, the dogs barked, I heard someone stumble over something, and looked out my open window to see a slightly built black male wearing a vest with an orange “X” standing in my driveway (garage door was open, as I was going in and out of the house), looking between my house and the neighbors. By the time I got outside to question/follow, he had disappeared.

I went up to the corner and looked down the block. Checked neighbor’s yard–nothin’.

About 5 minutes later, on Admiral, I saw a light-colored Caddy/Crown Victoria-type car go by, with my visitor in the passenger seat. The driver looked stocky and was a white male in his 30s or 40s. They were headed west from 37th.

Be on the lookout, folks, especially for people wearing what look like “official” worker’s vests. Authorities have been notified.

JumboJim July 22, 2008 (2:12 pm)

Could be they were legit (who knows), but if you decide to have them paint your number on the curb don’t pay first – pay when the job is done…

Bonnie July 22, 2008 (2:24 pm)

I’ve seen curb painters in our neighborhood too. They could be legit, maybe not. Hard to tell.

Smarty July 22, 2008 (2:27 pm)

I know this isn’t the point of the post, but the problem with painting numbers on the curb is that cars park there and nobody can see the numbers!

Paul July 22, 2008 (2:28 pm)

What are the city requirements for a number painted on the curb? I would check with the SW PD to see if its a requirement, or just another way to scam some money.

Basil\'s Mom July 22, 2008 (2:30 pm)

We too received the note. We didn’t request the number be painted but several neighbors did. They ended up looking really nice, so at least some part of this was legit.

JanS July 22, 2008 (2:41 pm)

when I was a home owner many moons ago, they would come around for 5 bucks…inflation now raises it to 15 bucks…wow. Back then they were legit. and it was painted with reflective paint, so if you needed help at night and they couldn’t see the # on your houwse, they could see in on the curb. Wish I had it now…the # on my bldg. is really hard to see.

Marge July 22, 2008 (3:26 pm)

actually they came through Fauntlee Hills last week, and actually did what they advertised. don’t know if this is the same group.

PSPS July 22, 2008 (3:34 pm)

They’re probably legit. I’ve had entrepreneurial guys of all types come around every year asking to do this not only in West Seattle but everywhere I’ve ever owned a house.

Mark July 22, 2008 (3:51 pm)

I received a similar notice (Gatewood neighborhood) which requested payment the day after the painting. I took advantage of the offer and they did a fine job. The paint used does appear to be reflective. Too bad my neighbors did not do the same as it is a big help for first responders.

LB July 22, 2008 (3:54 pm)

Curb painting is not generally a bad guy ruse, just someone trying to make a buck. Not sanctioned by the city, but not against the law either.

Curb painted house numbers are not a bad idea. Certainly cheaper to pick up a stencil and paint at the hardware store.

KitRit July 22, 2008 (4:11 pm)

We had the guys do our curb painting based on a note left on the door, and it looks great. I was not home when they did the job so they left a note asking to write a check to Community Painters, which I did and they cashed it. Honest work for honest pay. I’d definitely hire them again. 15 might seem like a lot, but by the time you go buy the paint and do the work yourself, you’ve spent more than that in time and money.

Michael July 22, 2008 (4:28 pm)

Yes, curb painters are generally lower-income folks looking for quick cash, but they do it by…painting numbers on curbs.

But thanks to OP for thinking the worst (in public).

rcrawley July 22, 2008 (4:48 pm)

Michael,

There’s nothing wrong with the OP being cautious; it’s the world we live in. How is being concerned about people soliciting a painting job any worse than people pretending to solicit magazine subscriptions, or any number of scams we’ve seen well reported here? I think the OP was just being a concerned citizen. Maybe calling the cops was a bit extreme, but at our neighborhood meeting a few months ago when someone from the precinct came out, he said better to call than not and let them weed through the reports.

Mary July 22, 2008 (5:44 pm)

I’ve done curb painting, several decades ago, always paid after the work was done. The behavior of the person himself seems odd for curb painting. It’s hard to say. We used a car to travel between neighborhoods .

I don’t see harm in keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior, and that did sound a bit strange to me.

Robert July 22, 2008 (8:30 pm)

Didn’t the boy scouts used to do this?

shoemama July 22, 2008 (8:42 pm)

i live in the belvidere area and saw this same man at my house this morning. he walked in between my house and my neighbors, and i saw – what i thought to be – a city of seattle stenciling on the vest. the man wasn’t acting suspicious so i assumed it was a meter reader or something.

JumboJim July 23, 2008 (9:44 am)

First clue is that criminals don’t wear orange vests while trying to rob houses. They do get to wear an orange jumpsuit *after* they’re arrested though.

islewrite July 23, 2008 (10:51 am)

Ahh, but a smart criminal might wear an official-looking orange vest to minimize suspicions of passersby as he or she pokes around a residence. (Directions to thieves: You must now immediately forget you ever read this post.)