West Seattle Crime Watch: Another stolen truck; car-prowl catch

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports out of the WSB inbox. First, another stolen pickup to keep an eye out for – from Rachel:

Stolen 1994 4X4 Nissan pickup, dark gray, turquoise line detail on sides. License Plate: B66561E. American flag sticker in back driver window. Stolen from North Admiral neighborhood 6/30. Call Seattle Police with any information: 206.625.5011

After the jump – a car-prowl case that led to arrests, and the odd item the suspects left behind:

My name is Steve and I wanted to let you and my neighbors in West Seattle know that my wife’s car was entered (Wednesday) night by a group of people. Here’s what happened:

We live around the former Charlestown Café on 42nd Ave SW. Early Thursday morning at about 2:30 a.m. I awoke to the sound of arguing on the street outside our house. Our windows were open and I heard a young man telling a young woman to “shut up”. Thinking someone was having a fight, I opened the blinds to see a group of about 6-7 shadows around my wife’s Acura (parked on the curb). Her car doors were open and her interior lights were on. I assume one of them heard me or saw me because they suddenly began to run away toward California Ave. I called 911 and the police responded within minutes. They immediately set off to look for the prowlers. The officers returned about 20 minutes later and informed me that they had caught these people down by Genesee, and it sounded like they got them all.

They did not break the car’s windows or force the locks, so I can only assume they used some sort of device, or, my wife forgot to lock her car. Either way, they were not in there long enough to take anything (not that there was anything to take). They did leave a black bucket-looking plastic container next to the car which I only assume they were going to fill with loot. What I can’t figure is why this container already had several green-colored bags of dog poop in it (like the kind you walk your dog with). So, if anyone is missing this container, I’ll try to get it back to you.

The prowlers were all young-sounding and the officers think they may have been trying the handles on cars around the neighborhood. Great job by the PD!

jwws July 1, 2011 (11:38 am)

We had some young kids place a bag of dog poop in the honey bucket outside our remodeling project one year – my husband caught up to them and gave it back. Maybe your prowlers were placing poop packets in cars as a stupid prank….

sophista-tiki July 1, 2011 (11:41 am)

excuse me, you left your poop! hahahahaha

me too July 3, 2011 (12:47 am)

That was my husband who wrote in about our car being broken into.

They did actually steal a duffel bag full of collectors items which was later found by a good samaritan who reported it to the police.

Unfortunately a 25 year-old bottle of coke was busted inside it – all contents likely ruined and impounded at some mystery lost and found of the police. No update on the criminals or next steps but will keep you posted unless WSB can possibly get the scoop first:-).

No idea what next steps are, if they went to jail, if they’ve been released or if we can press charges.

Completely disgusted but would like to say thanks to my hubby, the PD and kind person who bothered to report finding my bag.

What a bunch of crap-bags and I don’t mean the poo.

phil dirt July 3, 2011 (8:47 am)

We used to shoot or hang horse thieves. This is only going to get worse since the perps have no fear. There are too many lawyers, and the police have had their hands tied.

wstdope July 4, 2011 (4:48 pm)

As a 21 year old male who has spent his entire life here in west seattle and went through the public school system (lafayette madison and WSHS) and know many of the people around this age that are living in the area, i gotta warn you regular citizens of the area that there is a real bad heroin situation running amuck. Tons of young people are hooked and i can tell you that even though i dont know personally whos doing these things, im 99 percent sure its a bunch of dope fiends just trying to get by and get high. so lock your doors because unless the drug war actually works (yeah right) there is not much we can do.

bfranklin4206 July 8, 2011 (12:30 am)

wstdope- you are very correct there is a giant heroin problem here. ive lost two school mates last year to it.

me too July 11, 2011 (3:56 pm)

So…a disappointing update from the police department. I’m pretty confused by this. I’d been trying to reach the number we were given by the department every day since the incident. Each time, got an answering machine and no returned call. Finally hear back today and was told there was nothing they could do to link the people they arrested to the break-in…yes, the ones caught running away from my car. Odd because they told my husband there was no need for him to not touch my car, since they’d caught the people who did it – no need to take prints. They also would give me no info on the people who did it as they are minors. Would be nice to know who I should look out for at least – but our system protects the criminals more-so than the victims. Sounds like all these kids got was a free ride home. Boy, that will deter them next time. It’s a real shame that we don’t do more to catch and correct high-risk kids early on. Yeah, I get it…this is a small thing relative to some of the other stuff going on out there, but that doesn’t make it right. Also would like at least a shot to be repaid for what was lost. Any thoughts on ways to move this forward with the police?

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