2 reports to share (and a few more are in queue for another report later today): As noted on Twitter during a busy early Friday morning – an Alki resident reported that his car was broken into by someone who then tried to run him over. The victim posted a few details in a comment thread on another Crime Watch story, and we invited him to send more info. It happened around 12:30 am Friday in the Stevens Crest Apartments parking garage (61st/Stevens). He describes the culprits as a black male driving a gray Chevy Malibu, license plate 855-S**, and white male “who was in my car at the time I found them – approximately 5’10”-6′, wearing a white T-shirt, black baseball cap with white pinstriping. Most notable feature were his eyebrows for some reason – they were rather thick. Tattoos (gray and black scale, no colors) on his arms.” He says he confronted the two, and they “tried to run me over in the … garage.” Here’s what he says they stole:
2 Tama Tom drums 12 and 13 inch.
5 Zildjian Cymbals (in a DW bag)
1 Pork Pie metal snare drum
DW Stick bag with multiple sets of sticks
A Camelback bag (backpack) with gym clothes
iPod Video (Black)
Mackie 16 ch Mixing Console
Mixed monitor cables and Guitar cords
Meantime, there’s a long report from Westwood from someone who watched a suspicious pair Friday afternoon – read on:
From Matthew:
I have some information others may find useful. I live near Cloverdale & 36th Ave. SW. [map] Recently we have had problems in the area with burglaries and auto theft. We are well organized with the police block-watch program, over multiple blocks, and have worked with Benjamin Kinlow and the King County Burglary Initiative prosecutors. We have a drug house on the block that has caused numerous problems, and this may or may not be connected with teens or early-20’s youth breaking into houses generally during the daytime and taking cash, jewelry, laptops, and the like.
(Friday) I saw a couple suspicious-looking males, an Asian and a Caucasian, walk past our house, so I followed them from about 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. They had some fake-looking badges hanging from straps around their necks, and one (the Asian) had khaki pants. The white guy had navy pants. Both had navy or dark-colored jackets, and you could just see the tails of a red shirt hanging down below the white guy’s jacket. They did not carry clipboards, metering equipment, or other paperwork or tools. They shuffled along, stopping a few times per block, appearing to talk while they looked into neighbor’s yards and residences from the sidewalk. They walked south on 36th, turned west on Thistle, doubled back south on 37th, briefly going down a dead-end street between Cloverdale and Trenton. They continued to Trenton, crossed 35th heading east, as they weaved over to Barton and south of there, eventually standing at a corner by the Roxhill Park restrooms. Somewhere on 33rd or 34th, after waiting for a neighboring car to load and leave, and after much discussion, they walked up to a nice-looking house and loudly knocked. I could not get close enough to see what happened next, but soon they left the house and continued along.
The second time they approached a house was across from the Roxhill restrooms. I could see one of the men go up to the door and knock. I could not tell what happened at the door, but he ended up leaving as well. Next they went into the Roxhill restroom, where they could be heard talking loudly (it appeared one was carrying a cream-colored plastic bag). About 15 minutes later the Caucasian came out and went to a house either next to or a couple over from the initial house on the corner. This is the third knock-at-the-house-door incident. He was soon joined by his friend. They also looked into the mailbox. There was more discussion, then they walked toward the restrooms and continued down the hill heading east next to the natural grass area. This is when I had to leave.
I should emphasize this was a long, drawn out process, with much meandering, discussion, cigarette smoking, changing direction then returning back again. Often they would stop at a corner and talk, sometimes banging a walk sign loudly and repeatedly. At 30th & Trenton, each car that would stop (to let them cross) was rudely waved through. (I believe they took 30th over to Barton and south to the corner of Roxhill Park by the restrooms). These were not typical kids messing around or going to friends’ houses. They appeared high on drugs, and there would be no reason for them to stop at random houses and knock on doors. This perfectly fits the M.O. we were expecting in our neighborhood for these breakins, which happen in daylight seemingly out in the open with people going about their daily business.
Over this ~90 minute period I called 911 at least 4 times, maybe more, giving descriptions, location, etc. I also tried calling the SW Precinct (no answer), the King County Resid. Burglary unit (I knew head is on vacation now, and other prosecutor evidently just left the office for the day). Each time I called 911 they would try to get a squad car out there; however with my frequent location updates and being watchful for a car, evidently no cars were dispatched.
I was rather certain that if I followed these guys long enough I would witness them breaking into a house. They tried 3 times, so it was just a matter of finding one they liked, maybe with a door unlocked and no signs of anyone being home. It’s tricky timing with the police — get there too soon and they simply question the burglars, tipping them off and allowing them to leave. Wait until they are entering a house, and its likely the police won’t be able to get there in time.
Unfortunately I had to get home in time for the kids returning from school. I would be interested if indeed there are any burglaries reported (Friday) in these areas. The most shocking thing was that these guys were doing this in broad daylight, walking right past moms unloading groceries, kids getting home from school and being greeted by parents, babies being pushed in strollers, etc. People really need to look around them and notice things. Or maybe they saw me sneaking around following these guys!
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