West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 burglaries; 2 car prowls; WSCPC…

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports – two burglaries and two car prowls – in our weekend West Seattle Crime Watch report. Details ahead:

From Barney:

Friday, 3/14, someone broke in thru the front door of our Arbor Heights home during the day. Police are involved. Praying for their soul. I want to get the word out so our community can be aware and take protective steps.

Barney says they’re near 98th and 37th.

Another Friday burglary reported to us came in via text, so we don’t have a name:

Our house near Westwood was broken into today. Our dogs chased them off so we didn’t have much loss. Cops have been here and said they’ve been chasing these folks all day.

On Saturday, Bri’Anna spotted a sports car with both windows broken out at 25th/Dakota:

As I was walking to my car this morning, I noticed a car parked across the street with both windows smashed. As I was calling to report it, the owner showed up. He said he was renting a home for the weekend and had come back at 3 am. Surprisingly, nothing was stolen.

And finally: Lincoln Park’s car prowl problem has yet to be solved, reports a victim who wants to be anonymous, saying that his car was broken into when he and his wife went to the park last Sunday to walk their dogs and enjoy the sun. Items taken when someone smashed in a window included his wife’s cell phone.

He says they an app to trace it and it was shown as being at 35th and Avalon, so they called 911 and were told police could or would not be sent there, and that it would take several hours even to get an officer to the park to check out their car. He eventually filed a report through the precinct the next day and says he was told at least four other similar reports have come in from the weekend (none are shown on the police-report map, but it’s been glitchy lately).

We will follow up with precinct leadership; we also suggested the victim might want to bring it up during the community-concern time at this Tuesday’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (7 pm, Southwest Precinct); the agenda includes behind-the-scenes SPD guests talking about recruiting and background checks.

Ray March 16, 2014 (9:48 pm)

The Lincoln Park thing has been as issue for quite some time.

Why have the police not set up any stings there in the park?

Just curious, is this happening in the parking lots near the ferry terminal or the ones along Fauntleroy?

WSB March 16, 2014 (9:55 pm)

I sent that question back to the person who sent the report. Will add when I get a reply.

JanS March 17, 2014 (12:21 am)

we all have to remember to never ever leave anything of value, or that you value, in your parked car, esp. when going to parks like Lincoln (known problems), Westcrest, Alki, etc. We’re all guilty of it from time to time.

It sucks that this is such a problem. While I understand that the SPD can’t be all-reaching, I do like the idea of a sting. Maybe they could catch some of these people :(

WSB March 17, 2014 (6:51 am)

I did actually hear a stakeout over the scanner a few months back. They were at Lincoln Park for quite some time – and when nothing happened, they moved on to Westwood.

Brian March 17, 2014 (8:23 am)

Is there signage at Lincoln Park about not leaving valuables in your car? If not, that would go a long way in protecting people who are not familiar with this problem at the park.

Chuck And Sally's Van Man March 17, 2014 (9:27 am)

@Brian: Seriously? In this day and age you need a sign? High concentration of break-ins or not, this crap happens everywhere. A sign just seems like an added expense. Better to spend that money on police patrols.

sc March 17, 2014 (10:08 am)

Maybe one of the TV stations should do a “sting” at Lincoln Park? Can we “Get Jessie”?

SoTiredOfThis March 17, 2014 (10:32 am)

So when the cops try a stakeout, it doesn’t work. (In my mind’s eye, that looks pretty hilarious, actually. I can only imagine how that was run…).

But when a victim tells SPD right where the stolen phone was IN REAL TIME… the cops aren’t interested in using that information. Nice.

WSB March 17, 2014 (11:18 am)

Re: the question of whether warning signs are posted – I checked after coming back to WS from downtown (no trial today, judge sick). The big central parking lot has a bit of signage on its south side, none in the north side. They say either “high car prowl area” or more politely “please take your valuables with you.” The south lot has a few more signs, both kinds, but they are nowhere near as common as the 4 HOUR PARKING signs placed just about every other space. – Tracy

WSnative March 17, 2014 (1:32 pm)

Also, if you are planning on storing your valuables in the trunk, do it before you get to the park. I had friends who thought they were smart by putting their purses in the trunk, right in front of everybody, only to come back and find their trunk broken into and purses stolen. Do it before you leave since they are probably watching.

Fester the Jester March 19, 2014 (9:21 am)

I occasionally like to hide in my trunk. That way I am jack-in-the-box surprise to car burglars. We all laugh together and then go our separate ways. Love thy neighbor, I say, even if they are burglar scum.

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