West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglaries in Sunrise Heights, Gatewood

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share:

SUNRISE HEIGHTS BREAK-IN: On 34th SW between Othello and Webster, someone broke in at midmorning Tuesday, taking computers, tablets, jewelry, even money from kids’ piggy banks, according to a neighbor who shared the info on behalf of the victims – who couldn’t because their computers were gone.

INTRUDER ARRESTED AFTER MULTIPLE BREAK-INS: A Gatewood resident reports a burglar was arrested in her neighborhood on Saturday afternoon after breaking into her home and three others nearby – at least two, while people were home, as was the case at her house. One witness gave police a good-enough description to spot and arrest the suspect. At our tipster’s house, she says, “He broke in the back door, stole a laptop, mail, a Batman costume and a Coke and Gatorade.” Making his getaway, he dropped a backpack and ran – “into the arms of cops up the road,” who, according to the victim, said the suspect was under the influence. Since receiving this reader report, we also have obtained the police report, which says the burglaries that day began in the 8400 block of 42nd SW (map) and ranged southwestward across about four blocks until he was stopped in the 4300 block of SW Southern. The report says he tried to give a false identity, claimed to be suffering from heat stroke (Seattle Fire medics screened him and determined he wasn’t), and ultimately was booked into King County Jail.

7 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglaries in Sunrise Heights, Gatewood"

  • k July 16, 2014 (5:11 pm)

    I hear about all of these burglary arrests and many times I wonder… is this in some way connected to crime at my house? It occurred over three years ago… but I always wonder. Does anyone know if the PD does follow up? Runs prints for previous crimes? Watching tv I think they do, but I am not entirely sure that they got good prints at the crime scene at my house (because the PD , for whatever reason and I have to think a good one, is trained in evasiveness when answering crime survivor/ victims questions). The case that involved my house was marked ” inactive ” is what I was told by SPD. Just wondering…

  • J July 16, 2014 (8:32 pm)

    This same crook stole my husbands phone from the Sherwin Williams store on Delridge the day before he was arrested. We spotted him in our neighborhood on Saturday and my husband alerted police. He was able to give a positive ID of the guy to the police during the arrest. Although we did not recover the phone, we are happy to have this guy off the street and out of our neighborhood!

  • Laura July 17, 2014 (12:23 pm)

    This is very interesting as last week my husband and I were on a walk in that same vicinity with our dog and on 3 separate occasions we saw a guy in a Camry cruising the area very slowly, painfully slowly. We were on 38th and Austin when we saw him going up to 35th so I told my husband to watch for him at 38th and Holden and sure enough here he came rolling by so we were able to get the plate number and call it it in.
    We first encountered him at 40th and Webster, then
    38th and Austin and 38th and Holden.

  • Jennifer July 18, 2014 (12:07 am)

    I live in the 8400 block of 42nd and was home all day Saturday. This is the first I’ve heard of it. Thanks for the report.

  • WS July 19, 2014 (9:57 am)

    J and Laura, can you give us a good description of the car and driver/criminal please? Why can’t we share license plates #’s??
    Laura, what time did you see the Camry?

    • WSB July 19, 2014 (10:00 am)

      Partial plate, great. If you have a full plate, the police are who need that.

  • Laura July 19, 2014 (11:42 am)

    WS the Camry was a dark green late 90’s and the driver was a guy about 40ish brown hair. I thought it was really strange that he didn’t glance at us as most people do when passing in cars. My husband didn’t think it was strange but I told him if he was looking for a pet or address for sure he would stop to ask as he passed us 3 times. The time of day was about 11am

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