West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 street holdups; break-in; more

We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with two incidents we’re still working to find out more about – two gunpoint street robberies in the past four nights. We requested the details from Seattle Police today but did not receive them; reports with narratives are unfortunately not usually available online for up to a week, if at all. Anyway, what little we do know: The most recent one happened at 34th and Myrtle early Saturday, just after midnight, and neighbors saw police searching the area; the one before that was late Thursday night in the 5200 block of 16th SW, and we know a few details because a safety bulletin was subsequently circulated over the weekend by South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – someone with ties to the school forwarded it to us. It noted that the robbery happened off-campus: “A student was reportedly robbed at gunpoint by four individuals at approximately 11:30 pm on Thursday, August 1. The student was uninjured but shaken up; the robbers reportedly stole the student’s iPhone and approximately $150 in cash.” Again, we are still trying to get the detailed reports on these two street holdups and will publish more information in Crime Watch when we get it.

Ahead, a burglary today, and a suspicious person spotted Sunday night:

The burglary report comes from a reader who didn’t want to be identified:

Our house was (burglarized) today, Monday, August 5th sometime before 3:30pm. We live in the Highland Park neighborhood off of 12th. Luckily, cat & dog were unharmed. We suspect it was one person as they took small portable items: camera, flip video & jewelry. Stay vigilant out there!

And from another anonymous reader – this Sunday night sighting:

I just went for a walk into Fauntleroy Park with my family and some neighbors (3 adults & 4 young girls, 1 dog) and passed a slim clean cut hispanic man (6′, close-cut sideburns, white shirt with black design, jeans) as we were heading back out of the park down by the big tree intersection near the SW 97th St entrance.

My wife noticed that this guy at first started following me and the little girls as soon as we passed him standing on the side of the trail (he hadn’t realized that my wife and the other mother were still behind) and once he realized there were more people behind him he reversed course down the trail past the women and then turned around and resumed following the group, hanging back and staring at each bend.

I hung back on the trail with my dog as the others exited the park at the meadow (I hadn’t wanted him to follow us surreptitiously to our houses) and sure enough this guy peeked from around the first bend from the entrance twice over the 5 min that I stood there. I exited the park and went back in with my dog and my neighbor with her phone to see if we could snap a picture of him, but didn’t see him again.

I have called the police and notified them of the suspicious activity, but be on the lookout in the neighborhood.

Speaking of neighborhoods, here’s hoping you’re all ready for a Night Out block party tomorrow (Tuesday, August 6th) – even if you’re not, remember that side streets will be closed all around West Seattle. We’ll be out and about reporting on some of the neighborhood get-togethers, so check here for live coverage as the night goes on.

16 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 street holdups; break-in; more"

  • Ray August 5, 2013 (10:04 pm)

    I love Lincoln Park, but I have started carrying my concealed carry there this year. I have had and observed several run-ins with sketchy people and been accosted at least once.

  • Brandy August 6, 2013 (1:26 am)

    I just wanted to add to the burglary incident in
    Highland Park. Sunday afternoon I left at noon to go run a errand was only gone for no more then a hour and came home to my whole house turned upside down.It appears that they were looking for something the way they tossed everything about.But so far the only items missing are small electronics/jewelry as well.Leaving bigger items like laptops and such behind.I live off of 14th and Elmgrove.If you seen anything out of the ordinary that day any tips would be helpful.

  • Eric August 6, 2013 (4:44 am)

    Cowardly POS. 4 people and a gun robbing someone. One day these people are going to run into the wrong person. Wasn’t there a similar type hold up by Lincoln Park not too long ago?

  • Eric August 6, 2013 (4:45 am)

    Hey Ray,

    How were you accosted at Lincoln Park if I may ask?

  • Really? August 6, 2013 (7:52 am)

    Ray – My family will feel much safer with you bringing Your gun to a park filled with other families and kids.

  • myhood August 6, 2013 (8:14 am)

    I would really like to know more about the situation at 5200 block of 16th SW since I live there! Had no idea until a neighbor mentioned something but didn’t have much info either. We try and be very careful and watch out for each other in our neighborhood I find this very scary.

  • schwaggy August 6, 2013 (9:18 am)

    @Really? – then you should feel even safer to know that there are many others carrying in addition to Ray. Get over it. Responsible gun owners are probably not a concern when compared to the vermin hanging in the park.

  • dave August 6, 2013 (9:22 am)

    To “Really?”
    I’m going to assume that’s to Ray’s point. The fact that there are so many easy victims to the bad guys out there at Lincoln Park. Hence stories similar to this anonymous father’s popping up quite frequently.
    .
    Whether you carry concealed or not you should at the very LEAST have pepper spray and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
    .
    I personally applaud Ray.

  • My Eye August 6, 2013 (11:33 am)

    It is a very wrong assumption to assume that you or others are safer because you are carrying a gun. What are you going to do if you are accosted at gunpoint? Draw on someone who already has gun pointed at you?
    .
    Let’s say you do get your gun out and in your shaky adrenaline laden body manager to get a shot off. Chances are you are going to miss and that piece lead is going to fly off uncontrolled until it is stopped by something be it a tree or a child or a pet or parent.
    .
    More guns is not the answer. More bravado because you feel greater comfort in carrying is not the answer. You want slime like this to stop bugging people, look out for your fellow human being. Let the police know when you’ve been accosted and get involved in the community to help out those that are less fortunate than you.

  • EdSane August 6, 2013 (2:04 pm)

    A friend of mine was robbed in White Center a few months back. 4 people each with their own gun. Fighting back would have been suicide.

  • evergreen August 6, 2013 (2:31 pm)

    OK, is crime getting worse here or is this just our statistical norm?

  • Doug Fir August 6, 2013 (3:58 pm)

    A whole lot of speculation there My Eye.

    While some points are valid, adrenaline can degrade accuracy dependent on level of training.

    Thant said in armed confrontations Concealed Permit holder offer have a higher accuracy rate then police officers and typically have more training then the average cop on the street.

    Yes it is dangerous to pull a gun on someone that has already drawn on you. (one proper maneuver would be to sidestep and shoot). However a firearm gives a definite advantage when confronted by someone with a knife, blunt weapon or multiple opponents.

    As for the police, they cannot be everywhere at once, nor do they have a duty to protect you. I also doubt they could quickly respond to your location in an area the size of Lincoln Park.

    A concealed pistol can be drawn and accurately fired in seconds versus the minutes it would take for SPD to arrive.

    For anyone interested in carrying a firearm for self defense I would recommend a call at one of the regions many Training schools, such as West Coast Armory, Insights, or Seattle Firearms Academy

  • BP August 6, 2013 (4:39 pm)

    Any update on the incident at 34th and Myrtle available? That is too close to home!

    • WSB August 6, 2013 (5:27 pm)

      BP, not yet. We and SPD were both caught up at midday with today’s incident, and they seem to be shortstaffed in media relations this week. And the narrative STILL isn’t on the city website.

  • WTF August 6, 2013 (5:21 pm)

    My Eye. Are you for real?!

  • My Eye August 6, 2013 (8:13 pm)

    More real than the delusional who thinks he’s going to sidestep and shoot.

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