West Seattle Crime Watch: Bike, boat thefts, & more

More bike thefts in West Seattle Crime Watch, plus a boat stolen – and found – as well as some miscellaneous reports. First, about Shane’s bike:

I wanted to report my mountain bike stolen late last night, (Aug. 12th), from my garage, (2400 block of SW Edmunds), and see if anybody sees it in the next few days. I mistakenly left my garage door open last night, so I’m partially to blame. All that was taken was my Specialized Enduro Expert bike, blue with some distinctive orange stripes on the frame that are not very visible in this photo, (did not have the fenders on it anymore). May still have a sticker on the side of it that said “You laugh because I’m different, I laugh because you are all the same.”


Ahead, the ski-boat saga – and various reports from a local block watch:

From Conor:

Just a heads up that ski boat was stolen last Thursday might near Charlestown and 47th ave SW. It was recovered today [in Normandy Park] but missing the outboard motor

The boat was parked only 3 days before it was stolen so I think people are driving the alleys looking for valuables.

And that would dovetail with a report from Karen at the Hansen View Block Watch:

We thought all was quiet here in Hansen View until one of the neighbors e-mailed yesterday to say that they had a bike stolen from next to their garage off the alley (5000 block between 36th & 37th). The description of the bike is “20 year old dark blue and black Schwinn, male bike.” When I e-mailed this out to our BW list, several others in the neighborhood responded with related info.

One neighbor reported a carport break-in off our same alley, “We had our carport broken into also. I lost a tool box with many, many tools accumulated over the years, a tool bucket with glue guns, torches and various other tools, some car diagnostic equipment …..and still checking out other possible losses! Any information is appreciated!”

Another neighbor reported seeing a different bike, presumably abandoned nearby, “a small child’s balance bicycle (no pedals)… leaning up against a garage.”

Lastly, a different neighbor noted the following:

“Just read your e-mail and thought I should tell you about something I noticed last week. I was walking my dog early in the morning (a little after 5, it was still a bit dark) and I saw a small, older white pickup truck driving up 36th. There were a couple of bikes in the back and after it passed I started wondering if they were driving around, looking for bikes that people had left out the night before and taking them. But then I started doubting myself. It looked like a landscaping truck, with the open metal sides built up in the pickup part…”

If anyone wants to get in touch with us regarding the missing tools, lost or found bikes, they can email hansenviewblockwatch@comcast.net

8 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Bike, boat thefts, & more"

  • Rs August 14, 2012 (3:03 am)

    A guest visiting us had her car broken around 12:30 am at 38th and Hanford…we heard the sound of the glass breaking and caught them in the act. They drove off in a dark colored Ford Explorer with a GPS and some CDs…didn’t get the plates (they did leave a screwdriver).

    We heard what sounded like a gunshot 15 min later but I have to assume it was unrelated or a firework.

  • Faith4 August 14, 2012 (5:17 am)

    We just found out yesterday that a neighbor in North Admiral had their bike chained up outside their place. Thieves must not have been able to get the bike, so they just destroyed the bike making it unusable.

    Robber(s) also entered in an open window, taking the screen off at another neighbor’s house in North Admiral. It is thought that the person had to be small as the plantar boxes outside the window and the glass items inside the window were not compromised. The robber(s) also opened the back door. This happened between 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM a few days ago with neighbors not hearing or seeing anything. Needless to say, two neighborhood block watches are on high alert. It is believed that the robber(s) were watching and aware of when they left. Watch your surroundings, look around when you leave your home to see if there is anyone lurking around sitting in a car you do not recognize or wandering around. We did have a similar situation a while back & called the police to check them out.

  • D-Mom August 14, 2012 (7:59 am)

    A comment about the boat…I live in Arbor Heights and we had a stolen boat (raft-type) and trailer dumped in my alley last Wednesday, Aug 1st. The motor had obviously been stolen off of it. We called the police and it took a full week before they came for it. So it does sound like someone is cruising around stealing boats for their motors. My neighborhood has also become a dumping grounds for stolen vehicles. Two cars recently in addition to the boat.

  • Ted Diamond August 14, 2012 (9:59 am)

    Seattle Bike Blog ( http://seattlebikeblog.com ) has had a series of recent posts about local bike theft victims tracking down bike thieves and recovering their bikes.

  • yowl August 14, 2012 (10:13 am)

    RE stolen bikes: check the scrap metal recycle yards in South Park and Georgetown. They have piles of them, quite often. The guys that steal them chop them up under the 1st Ave bridge, under the 4th Ave bridge on Diagnal st, and on Dawson just north of Lucille. They live in old motorhomes, and have flatbeds or pickups parked next door. They scout neighborhoods for “stuff” on bikes. The Police need to come and clean this up. I have to wonder if they are on the take because this has gone on in broad daylight for years.

  • eric1 August 14, 2012 (8:21 pm)

    D-Mom
    .
    Unfortunately, you probably have a drug house nearby. Meth heads often steal cars to get home or to get to the drug house. Often they get high and forgot where they parked the stolen car. Meth heads seldom park right in front of the home as most neighbors know the drill about lots of cars stopping at a house for 5 minutes and they call the cops pretty quick.
    .
    They also take boat motors to sell or trade for meth and dump the hull and trailer nearby. Ask around, most neighbors know which houses in the hood are questionable. Probably a couple of blocks from you so you don’t know which one directly but they are close enough for them to steal from you.

  • Luke August 15, 2012 (9:50 pm)

    I might have seen you bike in the area of Fauntleroy Ave Sw and SW webster st leaning up on some bushes on 08/15/2012 at about 5pm…………………………..FYI

  • Luke August 15, 2012 (9:52 pm)

    I’ll check again now that I have another look at your bike.

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