West Seattle Crime Watch: 8 smash-and-grabs in ‘burglary pattern’

(WSB photo showing Zebra burglary damage, just after police arrived on July 19th)
We promised a followup on the broken-glass burglaries we’ve been covering in the past two weeks – starting with one at The Swinery on July 16 – so here’s the newest information from Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James. He confirms:

We do indeed have a commercial burglary pattern in West Seattle. To date, we’ve had 8 confirmed smash and grab burglaries that fit within our pattern since the middle of July. The burglar typically breaks a window to gain entry, grabs a cash register/vending machine, then flees.

Lt. James says another common point is that they’re happening in the early morning hours. He says King County Sheriff’s Office detectives also are investigating similar cases, and working with SPD counterparts “to coordinate the investigation.” Meantime, the Southwest Precinct is checking to see if any other SPD precincts have noticed similar trends. As for what else is being done about this new “burglary pattern,” Lt. James continues:

We have advised businesses to try to make it inconvenient for burglars to access cash registers/vending machines. We are also putting out directed patrols in the areas of these burglaries. As always, we ask for the community’s assistance in reporting suspicious people and activities. At this time we’ve been asking businesses with cameras focusing on the exterior of their buildings (to) review those tapes every 24 hours and report suspicious activity.

The most recent smash-and-grab was early Saturday at the liquor store in The Junction (WSB coverage here – our story also lists the previous ones we covered, and has a comment that adds to the list).

15 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: 8 smash-and-grabs in 'burglary pattern'"

  • Baba August 2, 2010 (2:35 pm)

    I’m shocked that after all these burglaries the media still didn’t come up with some sort of catchy nickname – like WS smash and grab bandit.

  • WhatBob SparklePants August 2, 2010 (3:47 pm)

    The Mash Drinking Smasher?

  • Joyce Sutherland August 2, 2010 (5:26 pm)

    @Baba~Shocked? or disappointed? That is probably what the perp/s want. Better to just keep our eyes & ears open, not give whomever is doing this any cute little nicknames or more publicity! There is nothing “cute” about any of it ~ next there may be someone hurt or killed.

  • DOC August 2, 2010 (6:01 pm)

    How about the “Glass and Carry Burgler” or perhaps the “Register Robber”?

  • Baba August 2, 2010 (7:22 pm)

    @Joyce, we live in the culture where media nicknames are a must…How about ” an early morn. smasher”…
    All the perp/s want is $ for drugs, or to be PC – money to feed their families…:)

  • cjboffoli August 2, 2010 (7:59 pm)

    How ’bout the “Would rather steal from hard working people than earn their own money” bandit? Or maybe the “Not fair to small business owners who are already struggling because of the economy” thief?

  • ad August 2, 2010 (8:19 pm)

    Was Fleurt hit? I saw yellow tape in front of it..

    • WSB August 2, 2010 (8:34 pm)

      There’s nothing on the city infomaps for either a 911 call or police report taken in that area, unless it was so new (like the past couple hours, which wouldn’t fit the “pattern”) that it hadn’t made it through the system, or unless it wasn’t reported to police …

  • Baba August 2, 2010 (8:35 pm)

    Dear mr.cjboffoli, I’m sorry to inform you but according to the BEA (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ) we have been out of the Great Recession for at least half a year now. LOL.!!!

  • EPL August 2, 2010 (8:40 pm)

    My god! The Swinery, really?!? What did these loser grab? Pork loin and some sacked sausages? Pathetic.

  • Stan August 2, 2010 (11:03 pm)

    How about the “Worthless Piece of Effing Garbage Bandit”?

  • old timer August 3, 2010 (12:01 am)

    Maybe, “The Useless Lowlife Thief”.

  • Paul August 3, 2010 (12:23 am)

    come and smash my window, I will be waiting with a big surprise for you, email me for time and location

  • Joyce August 3, 2010 (1:00 am)

    @Paul~I’m w/ you on that!!

  • Phil Dirt August 3, 2010 (5:21 am)

    If I had a business on California Avenue, I think I would begin sleeping on a cot in my work place right about now. I’d have a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot and a friend to stay with me. We’d sleep in shifts. Guaranteed, this burglar would be toast.

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