In discussions following West Seattle Crime Watch coverage here, some have wondered why police officers don’t appear to seek fingerprint evidence at every scene. Last night, at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske said one challenge is that they didn’t have access to working kits – so he’s fixing that. In our first of two reports on last night’s meeting, here are the new local stats and prevention plans he mentioned as the meeting began:

First – the “neighborhood policing” plan that’s been mentioned by new SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole and Mayor Murray.

SPD hasn’t released full precinct-by-precinct stats yet, just citywide numbers through August, but Capt. Wilske revealed two key numbers.

Auto theft is up 10 percent in this area (compared to 44 percent citywide); burglary is down 30 percent here (down 6 percent citywide). Both are major areas of emphasis in neighborhood-policing plans, said the captain. And he mentioned new – relatively – tools to fight and prevent crime:

*A “chronic offender database” – since a “very small number of offenders are responsible” for a very large number of the crimes. He says officers in the field will have access to that database, with information about chronic offenders who live in and/or “caper in” West Seattle. “That’s actually pretty much done,” said Capt. Wilske.

*New fingerprinting kits. The ones available to SW Precinct officers have “degraded” over the time, so the precinct is going to get updated kits and materials, “so that when we do respond to a burglary, auto theft, recover a stolen vehicle, we have the ability to get prints,” and increased chances of finding suspects and convicting criminals. (Added, 7:44 pm – We’re at another meeting featuring Capt. Wilske, and he’s elaborated that they’ll be buying a fingerprinting kit for EVERY officer in the precinct.)

*New engraving tools for citizens to borrow. Capt. Wilske says they’re hoping to encourage you to engrave your driver’s license number on key valuables – because if you get something stolen, that increases the chance of making a match when it’s found: “So when somebody’s driving down the street with seven TVs in their car, if your driver license number is engraved in it the officer can put that into the system” and make a match. “I probably won’t ever be able to eliminate burglaries … but if you get your stuff stolen, I want a way to get it back.” He’ll put out the word when they’re available. An introductory demonstration might be possible at next month’s WSBWCN meeting. (Side note: Social Security numbers are no longer recommended as identifying information for engraving, but there’s little risk in having your driver’s-license number out there.)

Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, also at the meeting, added that he has a template for an “inventory list” you can make – and, he reminded, when you take photos of your valuables, take the card out of the camera (lest it be stolen with all those pics).

Capt. Wilske added an update on staffing: Foot beats and bicycle officers will be visible in The Junction and local parks soon, as the Alki emphasis seasonally winds down and the extra officers are no longer needed there. Also, the precinct front desk now has a clerk scheduled 23 hours a day (with a sergeant watching for the 24th), Capt. Wilske confirmed – that’s part of Chief O’Toole’s department-wide directive.

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Part 2 of our coverage from last night’s meeting will be in a second story; it’s just too complicated to tack onto this one. Three King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office deputy prosecutors explaining, basically, the intricacies of why repeat car thieves/burglars don’t just get locked up for life at some point – with a ton of context about everything from the filing of charges to the determination of sentences. It might help answer a lot of questions often asked when we cover arrests and sentencing hearings.