West Seattle Crime Watch reader report: Car stolen tonight

| Crime | West Seattle news

Just received this from Laura. Maybe it’s not too late for someone to help solve this car theft:

Vehicle missing parked on SW Thistle between Fauntleroy Way SW and 46th Avenue SW across from Lincoln Park. (map)

Last seen today at 6 pm. Noticed missing at 10:15 pm.

Red 1996 Honda Civic CX Hatchback 2 door, WA license plate 430TFY

Police have been notified, car not reported as towed and we are expecting a visit from an officer tonight.

Information can be reported to SPD at 206-625-5011 or here.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Laura sent this update:

Just wanted to let you know that we just received a call from King County Sheriff and the car was found blocking a road near Sea-Tac early this morning and had been “stripped for parts” (the hood, engine and other parts were removed from the vehicle).

Thought I would pass along that SPD officer advised last night that if you park your car on the street anytime like our visitor did, it’s worth the $23 investment to get a “Club” for your steering wheel. The officer says they think it is a major theft deterrent.

old timer August 19, 2008 (8:52 am)

The “Club” offered no protection for my truck.
They stole it anyhow.
Two plus years ago, still no news of it’s whereabouts.
IMO, the “Club” gives a false sense of security.
if thieves really want it, they take it.

beachdrivegirl August 19, 2008 (8:54 am)

That is just to bazar to me that someone stole a car in day light…

Krystal August 19, 2008 (9:07 am)

I am pretty suprised, but then again not, as it was a Honda. I love Honda’s, they are great cars, but they are one of the top desired vehicles for thieves to steal and strip. That’s what I thought happened to mine a few years back when it was stolen from SeaTac, but it was made into a traveling meth lab instead.
Yes, I agree, it seems there mush have beeen some sort of light left when this was car was stolen.

Cait August 19, 2008 (9:18 am)

It’s so amazing how brazen people are getting about stealing cars! Being a former owner of an older Toyota, I had it stolen from my well-lit apartment complex four times until it was finally totalled in Bellevue by the thief. Clubs do act as a deterrent but if someone is desperate enough Camrys and Civics are like sitting ducks.

Remind yourself that Satan saves a special spot in hell for car thieves and that one day this guy will get his car stolen and you can have a little laugh.

Cait August 19, 2008 (9:20 am)

Old Timer – the same happened to me with my club by the way. They broke it in half (and yes it was used properly) and then used the other half to bash into my car the next time. There’s a little bit of irony for you.

Brandon August 19, 2008 (10:16 am)

At least our city leaders have protected us from plastic bags. All Rejoice! Maybe we need a new “Citizens For More Important Things” activist group.

austin August 19, 2008 (11:11 am)

I’ve found the ‘lojack’ device to be pretty useful in the retrieval of my stolen hondas. It costs a quite bit more than a club but you get what you pay for. old timer is right – if they want it, they’ll take it. A few years ago when living on beacon hill I had a civic stolen thrice (!). The first time, thankfully, the police recovered it beat up and full of stolen merchandise a week after it was stolen (the cops actually returned it to me with a backseat full of screwdrivers, radar detectors and a plastic bong). It had to spend some time at the body shop as a result, and when I got it back I had a lojack device installed. The second and third incidents the police had the car in their possession within a half an hour, undamaged aside from the ignition break.

WSratsinacage August 19, 2008 (11:22 am)

Can’t believe the police suggested the club!? That has been worked around by thieves for almost 20 years!

CMP August 19, 2008 (11:41 am)

Poor little Civic…auto thieves are just the worst. I have a club for my Civic and it’s deterred theft but it’s still been broken into multiple times anyway. No one in law enforcement must have been victim to this crime or else there might be tougher laws around theft or break-ins.

Rick August 19, 2008 (12:05 pm)

It only takes about 10 seconds to saw through a steering wheel as the metal inside is about the diameter of a pencil. As with a lot of locks the only people they keep honest usually already are. I think the “club” tends to give people a false sense of security. Maybe a big “Steal Me” sign would give the thieves second thoughts. Then again, maybe not. Oh well……

JenV August 19, 2008 (1:15 pm)

this reminds me of a funny thing I saw in Belltown a few years ago during a heat wave. Someone had put the Club on their steering wheel, and apparently the heat expanded some things, because when we walked by the horn was going full blast and the Club was resting squarely on the horn. A few hours later and the horn sounded awfully pathetic…and the battery was dying. The funny thing, it was a Geo! As a former Geo owner myself, I found it funny anyone would think it would be stolen….

Michael August 19, 2008 (4:38 pm)

People love to talk about the time whozit’s car was stolen even with the Club. Yes, among random people who love the sound of their own voices, the Club is next to useless.
.
However, the police have the stats. And it’s a known and proven fact that most car theft is a crime of opportunity, not of “if the really want it.”
.
Most kiddies out for a joyride carry neither hacksaws nor bolt cutters. Hope this helps.

Elisabeth August 19, 2008 (11:30 pm)

My red 96 Honda Civic 2-door hatch was stolen 5 or 6 years ago from in front of my house on 40th at Dakota. Police found it abandoned on 65th Ave. N about six weeks later, ignition all ripped apart.
An officer recommended I get an Auto-brake device, a metal thing that locks onto the brake pedal. The car cannot be put in drive unless the brake is depressed and this device prevents it being depressed. I got it online, forget what it cost. Since then the car’s been broken into numerous times and sometimes the device has been twisted around in the thief’s attempt to remove it. Yes, like a Club, it can be sawn through, but to do so the thief has to have the door open and his/her butt hanging out into the street. This makes for an undesirable situation for the thief.

I told the officer that I was tempted to hide in the shrubbery at night with a shotgun. He said a blow-dart thingie would be more effective because it’s silent. He also had a Honda and had learned about the Auto-brake the hard way. Hondas are very easy to break into. Needless to say, but I’ll say it anyway, I don’t keep anything in it that I don’t wanna lose.

Katherine August 20, 2008 (3:32 pm)

My 1996 Honda Prelude has had multiple attempts on its life. The Club has saved it at least 3 times. But maybe I have a less intelligent class of thieves. The last time they left an axe in my car, which they had tried to defeat the Club with. They just made a mess.

Elsbeth September 20, 2008 (6:41 pm)

I had my Honda Civic stolen twice in my first two years in Seattle, after the second time I got the Club and in the two years since then it has not been stolen or broken into once. The idea as explained to me by the SPD is, the Club makes it more difficult and most car thieves will just move on to a vehicle without a Club in it (of which there are plenty!) most of the time. It seems to be pretty accurate. Also remember to not leave valuables in your car or anything that could be used for ID theft.

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