West Seattle Crime Watch: Store stickup; more converter thefts

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this early morning: First, police are investigating an armed robbery – it happened about an hour ago at the gas station mini-mart at California/Andover (map). Scanner traffic suggests they have a potential suspect in custody – the robber was reported to have fled southbound in a white truck; numerous officers responded, and scanner traffic quickly indicated a potential suspect sighting in the SW Morgan vicinity, as well as a gun having been found in the vehicle. At last report, officers were still working to check with the victim and any potential witnesses; we probably won’t be able to confirm an arrest till later this morning. Meantime, more reported catalytic-converter thefts – coming in as comments on the one published here a week and a half ago – read on:

Joe is one of the latest catalytic-converter-theft victims – he sent us this note Thursday night via Facebook:

W.S. had a rash of thefts (Wednesday) night. The thieves are targeting catalytic converters on trucks and Toyota 4runners as they are easy to get under. My 4runner was one of the targets… Midas said they have replaced 8 in the last 2 days, and as that is not the only muffler shop in W.S., who knows how many more have been victimized… There was also a 2-week spree in WS. in Jan 09… As this looks like the beginning of another, it would probably be a good time to put out a warning.

Subsequently leaving the same info in this WSB comment, Joe added that he’s in the Morgan Junction area. In that same comment thread, which followed our July 13th report about a victim, four other people reported similar thefts.

4 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Store stickup; more converter thefts"

  • toddinwestwood July 23, 2010 (5:19 am)

    we need to after the shady scrap metal dealers. When a guy show up with 8 sawed off converters and gets money for them, its just like a pawn shop.
    Scum of the earth.

  • Dana July 23, 2010 (9:02 am)

    Wasn’t that store held up up a few months ago? I feel so bad for the owners. Such sweet people.

  • Keith July 23, 2010 (11:34 am)

    When I lived in Chicago, there was a rash of auto part thefts, and the local auto shops were busted for selling people the very parts that were stolen off their cars. Not a bad way to drum up business. The police should investigate the shops that are enjoying a sudden sales surge.

  • sam July 27, 2010 (9:34 pm)

    My cat converter got stolen from my 4runner about 2 weeks ago. think they’re using a battery powered sawzall. clean cut on both sides. This happened right at morgan junction

Sorry, comment time is over.