Two neighborhoods with multiple car prowls are among the newest reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch. From Tommy:
Over the last week, there have been at least two vehicles with broken windows. One was a minivan near SW Juneau St and 25th Ave SW (first a broken front window, then the next night all side windows were broken).
This morning, walking my dog, I saw a neighbor on the 5400 block of 26th Ave SW picking broken glass out of her car door. She said that overnight, someone broke out the window, then stole nothing. Just wanted to get it out there in case someone sees something.
(added) CM sent word of this car break-in, not far from Tommy’s area:
My car was broken into early Sunday morning in the 4800 block of Delridge. Police said it looked like they were trying to hot wire it – damage to the ignition. Hard pressed to afford the repairs.
(back to original report) And this report from Fauntleroy:
Wanted to report several car prowls early Saturday morning 2/23 on Director St. at the bottom below 45th Ave SW.
At least 3 cars were broken into sometime between 2 am and 4 am, all parked in residence driveways. Small items were taken, and in one case, and expensive stereo/navigation unit was hacked out of the dashboard.
Police were notified and reports filed. If anyone else in the adjacent area was affected, please let us know. We’re wondering how far-reaching and organized this might have been.
Ahead, two more reader reports – a patio theft, and a “suspicious person” situation that might not have been a crime, but yielded some advice that a witness wants to share with you:
From Melissa:
(Monday) morning we noticed a toolbox was taken from our patio. It was up against our fence and not visible from the street, but in direct sight of our front door, so someone had to have come onto the property to have found it. Our yard is not accessible without coming through a closed gate so I would have to assume people were looking for quick things to grab.
It contained BBQ equipment and not actual tools so if someone took it hoping to pawn some tools they are out of luck. We’re on 35th near Cambridge.
And from Mary, a frightening situation that also proved educational:
At approximately 6:40 am (Monday, February 25) a young woman and I were at the last northbound C line bus stop on Avalon Way & SW Bradford near Luna Park Café. A man in an orange cab travelling south on Avalon yelled something at the young woman seated in the bus shelter. He did a u-turn and pulled in front of our bus stop and was talking to the young woman but his words were undetectable.
When I realized that she did not know him I requested that he leave. He did not leave so I told him I would call 911 if he did not leave. I pulled out my phone and he continued to stay and intimidate us until it was clear to him that a 911 operator had answered the phone and he sped off very quickly. He turned onto Spokane Street but it was unclear if he drove onto the bridge or under the bridge.
We stayed on the line with 911 until the bus came.
Upon recalling as many details as we could on our bus ride, the young woman and I can remember this:
The orange cab was stripped of all markings, so there was no cab company or cab number. The back window on the passenger side of the car was out, or down and it was covered with thick opaque plastic, but it was flapping in the wind, and he was speaking through it. The man appeared to be African or African American with a beard. We could not come to a conclusion as to whether he had an accent, if he was inebriated, or if he was speaking incoherently on purpose so as to get someone to come closer to the car to hear him.
It was very unsettling and this is what I learned: Be very clear with your fellow bus riders. When the young woman made it clear to me that she didn’t know the “cab” driver, I realized I needed to call 911 immediately. Also, to call 911 in situations like this is pretty helpful. The operator was patient with me and stayed on the line until our bus came to keep me calm. That was nice because my heart was pounding.
I live in High Point, so I see these taxi cabs often, but one without any markings and the back window covered in plastic should probably be avoided. And there isn’t really a reason for a cab to be trying to get a fare at a bus stop.
SIDE NOTE: Two reminders about upcoming meetings: one more mention that the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meets tonight with special guests talking about mail theft/fraud – 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (on Webster west of Delridge). And the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has announced the topic for its next meeting – graffiti vandalism. Mark your calendar for 7 pm March 19th, also at the precinct.
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