West Seattle Crime Watch: Latest reader reports; advice about ‘nuisance properties’

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

After a few intense days, crime reports have calmed a bit, so far as we can tell from the inbox and 911 map. But we do have two burglaries and two car prowls to report:

Stephen discovered Thursday night that his home in the 6000 block of Fauntleroy Way had been broken into while he was away at work – and that burglars had struck elsewhere on their block, leaving (besides fingerprints) a footprint that police told him resembled one found at the other scene. He says the burglar/s entered by tearing a basement window out of its frame; they stole jewelry and an iPad, but left other electronics behind. He also says police mentioned “a band of about 5 people” are believed to be responsible for many of the West Seattle burglaries happening right now.

Car prowls: Betsy says her car was broken into early Thursday morning in the 6400 block of 36th SW, but “nothing of value in the car, so nothing stolen.” Then Friday between 9:30 am and 1 pm, Beth‘s Civic was broken into near 35th and 100th in Arbor Heights. She’s hoping her brown-leather purse was dumped somewhere by the thief/thieves – let police know if you spot one.

Last but not least – if you have a “nuisance property” in your neighborhood, the newest newsletter sent by Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon includes LOTS of information on what you can do about it, compiled, he writes, with the assistance of precinct liaison Melissa Chin from the City Attorney’s Office. See it here.

P.S. As noted here earlier, the next crimefighting meeting is the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, 6:30 pm Tuesday at the precinct (Webster/Delridge).

Holly January 19, 2013 (2:33 am)

This is good to know. Maybe we can stop our crack head neighbor from terrorizing our North Delridge neighborhood with his crazy/scary antics. It’s one of the main reasons we are moving.

Alki Resident January 19, 2013 (6:35 am)

I can’t wait for these burglars to hit the wrong house.

Eric January 19, 2013 (7:27 am)

What is it that makes the cops believe that it is these 5 people? There must be something that is giving the cops this idea, and if so, what are they doing about it?

Can we get a description of what these 5 people look like? That way if we notice someone suspicious in our neighborhood that fits this description, we can 1. be more vigilant in noticing what they are doing. 2. Be more ready to call the police if we do see what deems to be suspicious activity.

Sometimes people may be hesitant to call the police, because they may feel they are paranoid and/or over-reacting. Yet seeing what they may perceive as a suspicious person(s) and/or activity from a person(s) who fit the description of suspected home burglaries can give the person more confidence in calling the police, rather than thinking they are merely paranoid and/or over-reacting.

I happened to be home the other day and noticed 3 younger people walking. Two of whom I recoginized as a guy/girl couple who stand in front of the Westwood Target exit asking for money on a regular basis. Looking out the window, I noticed the guy I didn’t recognize walk back to my neighbors house and give it a quick once over before walking back to his waiting friends. It could have been innocent or he could have been up to something else. I don’t know, but he didn’t do anything more than to appear to stand on the corner (it’s a corner house) and scan the house for more than a few seconds before leaving. I thought it suspicious, but didn’t call police. Instead I watched them to see if they would stop again and this would be repeated, which it wasn’t. I watched them until they were out of sight on 35th.

Now, if I had a description of 3 people matching their description, I might have thought/acted in a different manner and reported the suspicious activity. If I would have seen them repeat the behavior I saw, I definitely would have called, no matter what.

Eric January 19, 2013 (7:30 am)

BTW, is there any follow up to the 2 girls that used stolen credit cards at Target? At least two people came forward as to the identity of the girls involved. One not knowing the name(s), but knowing which school they attended and the years. The other person knew at least one of their names.

Is there any information as to what is going on with this case?

Marty January 19, 2013 (10:24 am)

While walking my dog this morning, I noticed some opened and empty boxes in the bushes near Fauntleroy Creek Park on SW Barton and returned them to the nearby address on the label. Looks like package thieves are still at it even after the holidays.

Peggy January 19, 2013 (1:07 pm)

Perhaps those 5 suspected people were the same ones that broke in to our house in early November – taking my entire collection of vintage costume jewelry (including 50-100 pairs of clip-on/screwback earrings; necklaces, my silver cuff bracelets; my late mother’s jewelry; etc.)?? I’ve kept an eye on craigslist, a friend has been watching eBay, and contacted as many vintage stores as I could… so, unless the girls are wearing the earrings or gave the jewelry as “Christmas gifts” – they still have it… and I hope they are caught.

anti-obstruction January 19, 2013 (5:04 pm)

These stories make me sick–my god, tearing out a window frame to gain entry???
I gotta say, it’s getting to the point where I don’t even want to leave the house unattended for fear of these thieves.
Eric, great questions and it sure seems we all could expect some sort of information from the police to help us help ourselves.
I’m always vigilant when walking our dog through our neighborhood, will be even more so going forward.

SunriseHeights January 19, 2013 (7:19 pm)

We were the house that was ransacked and robbed on Wednesday on 28th. The police found a footprint on our back porch. Wonder if it’s the same.

juju January 22, 2013 (10:19 am)

We were robbed on the 7th…between 11 and 1..I came home and I am sure they saw me pull up and got out, but not before stealing every single piece of jewelry I owned…We live in the 7300 block in the Sunrise Heights neighborhood as well…at least 4 other recent robberies have also occurred in the 7300 block…I hope the police figure it out. The thieves got in by taking off a storm window and prying the other window open. I was only gone for under 2 hours and don’t keep a regular schedule. People need to be alert and call 911 if they see ANY suspicious activity…the worst (or best) that can happen is it turns out to be nothing.

Sorry, comment time is over.