West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run; theft thwarted

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports – another case of hit-and-run damaging parked vehicles, and trespassing that appeared to be on the brink of theft. First, this photo from Darlene, with word of what happened early Friday:

The photo shows what [one of] our cars look like after a drunk couple slammed into them at 3:30 a.m. (Friday). The police have impounded the car that hit ours and we have photos of the offenders’ vehicle also. We have also submitted the offenders’ license plate to our insurance company. Our neighbors saw the couple walking away up 56th. Prior to them walking away one of our neighbors spoke to the female, who said “we’re fixing a flat tire”. I want to thank all our neighbors who called the police and described this couple. They had a baby seat in their car; no one saw them with a child. The car is registered to an address in Kirkland.

And received late last night from DG:

My son just found someone on our property (near 32nd SW and SW Cloverdale) about an hour ago. He went outside and heard a sneeze, then found a man hiding in shrubbery just off our carport. The man was next to the lawnmower which had the board used to weigh down the tarp removed, bungee cords loosened and the tarp pulled nearly off the mower. The man was about 30, 5’10”, about 170 lbs, probably Caucasian, and wore a red or orange jacket with a reflective stripe and dark pants. He ran off of our property and headed east as my son gave chase. The place where the man was hiding is about 25 feet from the street and surrounded by fencing and clearly private. The carport where the lawnmower is kept is brightly lit and the mower is chained to a post.

By the way, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets this coming Tuesday, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Holden/Delridge), with guests including new precinct liaison Melissa Chin of the City Attorney’s Office and Jill Otake of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

smokeycretin9 February 18, 2012 (9:12 am)

Wow. So angry that people will walk away from something like this. Take solice in the fact that their car was probably stolen and they dont have children.

deigratia February 18, 2012 (10:24 am)

I was completely remiss in not crediting SPD’s SW Precinct officers who responded when I called 911 just after the man ran off of our property. They were here before I finished the call, with one officer stopping to speak with us and survey the area where the man had been hiding and another who went searching for the man around the neighborhood. Kudos to the professional and helpful demeanor of the officer we spoke with and to the dispatcher. (Thank you!!). However, I must report that after SPD left, we tucked the mower in for the night again, with the tarp, bungees and board battened down and a large log just for good measure on top of the whole shebang. At about 2:30 in the morning, my son heard another sound behind our house and went out to investigate, but could see nothing and no one. This morning, the mower was completely unwrapped again, to the point where whoever was on our property could clearly see it was chained firmly to a post.

Marcus M February 18, 2012 (11:00 am)

In W. Seattle, if you don’t chain it, nail it, lock it – then consider it stolen. We have a small army of roving looters patrolling the streets every night.

Rob February 18, 2012 (11:06 am)

You must have a really nice lawnmower, on a serious note, I would jot down the serial number of the mower if it has one as well as take pictures of how it was secured. It would not surprise me that if the suspect came back, he would return with a tool to cut the chain…considering he’s been there twice.

KN February 18, 2012 (11:27 am)

They generally run away to avoid the DUI charge. We had this happen while trying to park our vehicle outside Peso’s and a car full of drunks sideswiped our SUV. After 15 mins before the police turned up they left the scene. Hope you get your vehicle back replaced in equivalent condition with no $ loss to you.

Val Vashon February 18, 2012 (12:39 pm)

KN’s never seen a totaled car I guess…

Sophista-tiki February 18, 2012 (5:34 pm)

Car prowels in Westwood this week. Someone came up my driveway to rummage thorugh my truck, I think my giant german shepard scared them mid prowel and they left the interior light on in my truck, leaving me with a dead battery in the morning , took all day to charge it and I missed a whole day of work. Pissed that some a$$hat went through my truck ( get a life) even MORE PISSED that they messed with my income! I catch them on my property in the middle of the night again and I’m gonna open the front door and let the dog handle it while I back him up with my baseball bat!

KN February 18, 2012 (9:06 pm)

THAT car is totalled, you are correct Val Vashion. But read the sentence again – “hope you get your vehicle back *replaced* in equivalent condition” – that means ins. co. will give them enough $ to replace the totalled existing car. I’ve had my vehicles totalled enough times to know the system – same situation – drunk or medicated idiots losing control on the street.

e.c. February 19, 2012 (1:17 pm)

Heads up. While out walking the dogs near 51sw / sw Andover this a.m.( 5a.m.,we don’t sleep…) we saw two teen males, white, hoodies, walking together east on sw andover st. until just after they passed us. One went south down 50ave sw, the other briefly down the alley between 50 and 49sw. We turned around and followed from a distance, checked the alley, they disappeared really quick. Too quick. We looked but could not find them, or anything amiss. Changed their minds? Keep your eyes open. We are watching…

operator February 19, 2012 (3:01 pm)

I live on that street and walk my dogs a night always looking for “trouble”..Ironically I saw two kids (white, hoodies with backpacks) lastnight (2030hrs) riding bikes down 49th and Andover, who split up when I slowed down and made eye contact with one. I wonder if it’s the same kids.

Sorry, comment time is over.