Update: Police say ‘burglary’ wasn’t what it seemed to be

5:15 PM: Thanks to everyone who has texted about this – we heard the sirens from a mile south. There’s a major police search in the Seaview area. We have a crew there, and we’re still working to confirm details.

5:33 PM UPDATE: Police at the scene, which is near 45th/Findlay (map), tell us this was called in as a burglary in progress – possibly with people in the house when it happened. They’re searching the area, with K-9 help, for two suspects. We also learned from a nearby resident that police had been called earlier in the afternoon about people who appeared to be trying doors in the area.

As reported in recent WSB Crime Watch updates, police have been making progress in catching suspects in what until recently had been an rash of break-ins; just yesterday, according to Southwest Precinct Capt. Steve Paulsen, they arrested a suspect after a burglary in Fauntleroy.

7:45 PM UPDATE: Neighbor Kristina provides more information in a comment, from which this is excerpted:

This happened next door to my house. My neighbor’s wife had just left in the car to run errands with their two small children, and my neighbor had just come out of the shower and was getting dressed when a man came up behind him and started strangling him. He was able to get away, came to my house, and we called 911. Terrifying for all of us, but everyone was safe in the end (fortunately my neighbor is a strong man). The burglar had kicked in a back door to get in. One theory is that the burglar had watched the wife and kids leave, and thought that the house was empty, but didn’t know that the husband was home.

8:27 PM UPDATE: And more new information, from Capt. Paulsen: “(On) further investigation of the occupied burglary (it) was determined to be a family matter. We are following up on the deceptive reporting given the amount of resources used/responded.”

24 Replies to "Update: Police say 'burglary' wasn't what it seemed to be"

  • Neal Chism December 23, 2011 (6:21 pm)

    Thanks for the update. Heard nothing and had a cruiser parked in the alley behind the house for a short time. They have moved on now.

  • CB December 23, 2011 (6:49 pm)

    SPD nabbed a burglar near SW Cloverdale and Fauntleroy PL SW couple of days ago. Caught him a few blocks away with stolen items. Cops told me there are gangs that work the entire county. He said it’s a very sophisticated operation. Let’s hope the have some success tonight.

  • Kristina December 23, 2011 (6:57 pm)

    This happened next door to my house. My neighbor’s wife had just left in the car to run errands with their two small children, and my neighbor had just come out of the shower and was getting dressed when a man came up behind him and started strangling him. He was able to get away, came to my house, and we called 911. Terrifying for all of us, but everyone was safe in the end (fortunately my neighbor is a strong man). The burgler had kicked in a back door to get in. One theory is that the burgler had watched the wife and kids leave, and thought that the house was empty, but didn’t know that the husband was home. Whatever it was, my doors and windows are locked tonight and I’m not very happy about this whole thing. :-( VERY glad everyone is safe, though.

  • Chuck and Sally's Van Man December 23, 2011 (8:17 pm)

    That is some serious s__t right there. It’s one thing to rob, it’s another to (attempt to) kill in the process. I am glad that everyone is okay. And that I have very vigilant dogs and great neighbors. And yes, guns.

    Organized gangs at the root of this? Swell.

  • kayo December 23, 2011 (8:30 pm)

    That is terrifying! I hope they catch this guy and lock him up for a long, long time.

  • Kristina December 23, 2011 (8:48 pm)

    Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttt?!

  • S December 23, 2011 (8:50 pm)

    Had packages stolen from my front porch, earlier this week a neighbors apartment door was kicked in and that same evening someone stole the coin operated washer and dryer from my apartment buildings laundry/storage room. A few weeks prior someone tagged our whole carport with “Bloods” gang graffiti. On the laundry room door they wrote, “Red Zone Bloods Turf” “Blood Gang” a picture of a gun shooting something and several other things.

  • A December 23, 2011 (8:52 pm)

    What the hell?? A “family matter”? I hope they can charge them with something – false reporting.

  • JimmyG December 23, 2011 (11:53 pm)

    So the “victim” faked being a “victim” to cover up some domestic violence issue, involves an innocent neighbor, allows a large drain on our police resources, scares the surrounding neighbors?
    I hope SPD is charging someone with false reporting.
    Embarrassed to say this happened in my ‘hood.

  • Diane December 24, 2011 (1:19 am)

    is it possible to get any further clarification on what really happened? I’m housesitting across the street from Kristina; after reading what she experienced, I was scared to even go over there; now completely baffled; so do the police think all is safe there?

    • WSB December 24, 2011 (1:36 am)

      I don’t have access to the report (those usually don’t become available for days), so I don’t have further details – what is published here is an exact quote and it is the entirety of the information we received. But my distinct *impression* is that police provided us with the postscript in order to convey that there is *not* someone random out there at large. – TR

  • Frank December 24, 2011 (1:41 am)

    I heard recently that robbers have been knocking on doors, and when people answer, they shove a gun in their face , then tie them up and rob them. Wow. I told my wife not to answer the door until she has seen their faces and knows them. I also got ADT and locked the gates to my side yards. SPD will get them, it’s just a function of time.

  • nichole December 24, 2011 (12:55 pm)

    Just because they know eachother does not make it less of a crime. Domestic violence is still violence people

  • zerodacus December 24, 2011 (1:20 pm)

    So, I’ll remind everyone that this is a neighborhood blog, and as such, your neighbors are reading this, so please stop with the idiotic speculation that this is a domestic violence issue. No where in this story is it even implied that this was domestic violence. And yes, it is my family, and the family matter will come out in the police report, the facts as reported are what happened.

  • Neighbor December 24, 2011 (4:22 pm)

    Once again our WSB has its nose in other peoples business where from my pov it shouldn’t . Question. Can anything happen here now without the blog knowing about it?

    • WSB December 24, 2011 (4:44 pm)

      Neighbor, if a huge response rolls to a reported home-invasion burglary, yup, we are going to cover it. That is no ‘nose in people’s business.’ It’s news. – TR

  • SuperAwesome December 24, 2011 (5:13 pm)

    Good for you, TR. News is not being nosy. If you don’t want your family business reported in the news, you should probably not involve the police. Police responses are public information.

  • Westside J. December 24, 2011 (7:20 pm)

    So the neighbor was watching the husband get out of the shower and get dressed?

  • Patricia December 24, 2011 (8:29 pm)

    Last week I saw a strange guy who almost t-boned me running a stop sign in this area. He was a young male driving a gold honda I believe. He was in a big hurry to get away. I was heading North on 48th Ave SW heading towards the Junction. He was heading Eastbound on SW Eddy Street. I thought I would keep an eye out for this area for robberies. I am not sure if this has anything to do with this or not?

  • Resident3 December 25, 2011 (10:43 pm)

    I hope Neighbor is not my neighbor. I like to know what’s going on!!!Thank you WSB.

  • bridge to somewhere December 25, 2011 (11:25 pm)

    @neighbor: why are your reading, if you don’t think this news is any of our busIness? You aren’t required to read the news, you know. Many don’t.

  • Brubency December 28, 2011 (2:10 pm)

    Anyone have any updated info on this??

  • Brian M. January 4, 2012 (4:15 pm)

    I’m just curious if the police report ever came out?

  • rain January 13, 2012 (6:31 am)

    a family matter can be a host of things… no one said DV. If it was ACTUALLY DV the police would have stated DV not, “Family Matters” .This
    IS a neighborhood Blog so be GENTLE and think of your neighbors before you pass judgment…unless, of course, you live in a glass house and are alright if i come by with friends and boulders :)

Sorry, comment time is over.