West Seattle Crime Watch: Business hit; car, bike stolen; mail prowlers scared off

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle Crime Watch cases to report this morning:

BUSINESS BREAK-IN/VANDALISM: Police went to Amy’s Nails at 5631 California SW around 8:30 this morning after the salon’s glass door was discovered to have been smashed.

We talked with the salon’s owner at the scene; he told us that so far as he could tell at that point, it did not appear anything had been stolen.

STOLEN CAR: From a WSB reader who doesn’t want to be identified:

Our 1997 White Honda Civic LX Sedan was stolen from in front of our house in Highland Park (14th SW & SW Trenton) sometime between 6 pm Monday and 5 am Tuesday. WA License #AIZ6670. There is nothing too distinguishing about it, except for the black Britax car seat in the back seat of the car which has probably been dumped by now. If you spot the car, or know anything about the theft, please contact 911. Thanks!

Ahead – a stolen bike to watch for, plus, what a fast-thinking neighbor took to scare away mail prowlers:

STOLEN BIKE: Tuesday morning between 8-11 am, Eli‘s “one-year-old gold-green KONA bike with disc brakes, fenders, lights, etc was stolen from the West Seattle Y’s bike rack. The lock was cleanly cut through and left behind. This is the 4th bike stolen from us, three out of the garage, this in open daylight! So frustrating.”

MAIL PROWLERS SCARED OFF: An anonymous report from Arbor Heights:

Monday night about 11 pm, a pickup truck loaded with junk was observed on the block of 37th Ave SW between SW 102nd and SW 104th. The truck was moving very slowly, stopping and starting as if looking for something. It then pulled up to a row of mailboxes and the driver began looking through each box. One of the neighbors had been observing this, ran outside, and threw a recycling bin at the windshield of the truck. The truck sped off, spilling some of the junk furniture piled on top. Police were called, but the truck was not located.

As police remind us, criminals tend to ramp up during the holiday season, especially thieves … SPD’s prevention/safety advice is here.

Hillary December 4, 2013 (10:43 am)

That is crazy that Eli’s bike was stolen at that time and location! Hope it is found soon.

Paul December 4, 2013 (10:56 am)

My bike was stolen out of my parking garage at the Link Apartments this past week too. A nice orange Specialized mountain bike. Lock was cut off clean. What really concerns me is that this was a secured parking garage! I’ll keep in eye out for this other bike too.

iamseriodotus December 4, 2013 (11:09 am)

I know this does nothing to keep your car from being stolen, but put some stickers on your car! It’s a lot easier for neighbors to spot a stolen vehicle if it has something distinct slapped on the back.

WSB December 4, 2013 (11:17 am)

Iam, that’s a really good tip – and if (heaven forbid) your vehicle gets stolen and you DO have something distinctive on it, mention it not only in the police report but also when you tell us for Crime Watch, so we can say “purple XX with a YY sticker and ZZ sticker on the window” or whatever. That’s helped people notice dumped cars before. – TR

Ian December 4, 2013 (11:50 am)

Do you have any other information on the pickup truck? Color? Make?

I have seen a couple of suspicious pickup trucks moving frequently around the Pigeon Point area, filled with old furniture and other junk.

Eric December 4, 2013 (12:08 pm)

Is there a description of the pick up truck?

StolenHonda December 4, 2013 (12:15 pm)

Yeah, that is a fair point @iamseriodotus. When asked by the police if the Honda had anything identifying about it, I realized just how hard it would be to ever locate with so many on the road that look exactly the same. Maybe I should have painted those flames on the side after all. ;) My hunch is that it is long gone by now, stripped for parts or some other indignity.

G December 4, 2013 (1:36 pm)

Paul,

A secured garage means nothing; it’s not difficult to get access to a garage, either by criminal elements who live there or give access to someone else. Sometimes parking a car on the street is actually more safe. I remember years ago I found a guy rummaging through our car in our “secure” garage.

Fortress West Seattle

AHneighbor December 4, 2013 (5:55 pm)

Twice yesterday (Tuesday) I noticed a pickup truck driving slowly down our street in arbor heights – 32nd and 106th. Once at dusk and once around 8:30 pm; with the glare from the windows I couldn’t get a good look either time. I definitely felt like they sped off when I noticed them the second time though. Wonder if this is the same truck as the would-be mail thieves? Good work, neighbors!

Josh December 4, 2013 (7:27 pm)

Out of curiosity, what kind of bike lock did you have, Eli? Was it a U-lock or a cable lock? I lock my bike at the Y as well…

bolo December 4, 2013 (10:08 pm)

Seems like a ’90s Honda Civic gets stolen here every week. Gotta be the most stolen make/model vehicle. My friend has one; she really likes it a lot.

I strongly recommended she get a “club” for it (steering wheel bar lock device) and use it religiously. She locks it every time she parks, does not consider it much of a bother, and is happy knowing she now has a much better chance of hanging on to this car she likes so much.

All you ’90s Honda Civic owners would be wise to do similar. The SPD say the club locked on the steering wheel is a MAJOR theft deterrent.

j December 5, 2013 (1:50 pm)

If your bike has been stolen there is a spot you can check. E Marginal and Spokane st. There is an encampment on the west side of the tracks. Look for a recreational trailer (white with brown stripes)and a brown utility trailer. The police made these people move when they were “parked” at Horton and Colorado. I look at the encampment every time I go by and see some nice bikes. Even took a pic of a red and chrome mtn bike with a bike rack. I’ve seen them pushing nice full suspension mountain bikes from there too (I’m a cyclist…these aren’t cheapo sears bikes). They amass piles of “stuff” and tarp over it. Bicycle trailers too and who knows what else from who knows where.

Sorry, comment time is over.