West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglar(s) hit Westwood Village; package thefts, including one on video

Five reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:

BURGLAR(S) HIT WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Thanks for the texts about the board-covered doors at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) and neighboring NK Nails at Westwood Village. We talked to Kirk Keppler from Wyatt’s. He said they were hit just before 4:30 am; security and police were there within minutes, but the burglar(s) had made their getaway. Investigators have prints and video to work with; Wyatt’s is proceeding with its originally scheduled Open House today (continuing until 4 pm), after hours of cleanup. They were even planning to defiantly and festively put a bow on the board over the door. (added – here’s the photo:)

Four reader reports today as well – all but one involving package theft. The first one has a package thief caught on video:

That’s from Todd, who has also provided the video to SPD after the theft at his home in the 3600 block of 35th SW. Todd says it happened last Thursday night. Any idea who that is? Case number to refer to if you are calling in a tip to SPD is #14-404125.

Ahead – three more theft reports, two involving packages:

Near Fauntleroy Park, Stefan reports package thieves striking during the daytime:

Both my neighbor and I had packages stolen from the doorstep of our adjoining townhomes. Our entrances open out on the alley off Fauntleroy facing Fairmount Park Elementary School. It happened during the day. We found the boxes emptied of contents in the garbage. Pretty brazen. We always have packages sent to work but this was a gift from a relative who forgot that we prefer this. It was from Amazon and apparently is covered by them but the neighbors weren’t as fortunate. Their package was a gift for their son from overseas.

And in Arbor Heights, near 44th/101st, Meridith reinforces the alert to get packages delivered to work or held:

Just wanted to report that I had a package stolen from my doorstep on Wednesday, 12.3. I was home at the time, car in the driveway and they stole it anyway. … The thieves got away with 2 jars of face cream and a wand of mascara, big haul. At least now they can look fresh faced while stealing!! Seriously though, mail theft is a federal offense and we as neighbors need to be vigilant.

Finally from Norm in Gatewood/south Morgan Junction:

Just wanted to make people aware that our Christmas decorations were stolen right off our lawn today. We had a small light up Rudolph and Bumble. (Friday) night they were there and (Saturday) morning they were gone. We live on the 6900 block of California Ave SW in the Gatewood neighborhood. Hopefully this isn’t something happening all over.

We hope not too. Can’t tell for sure because the SPD crime-reports map and Tweets by Beat haven’t posted anything new since last Thursday night. So we’ll take that as an occasion to remind you how much we appreciate reader reports; even when SPD’s automated data systems are working, it’s still harder to get details than you might think, and if you share the news, we can share a community alert. Criminals don’t just stick within microneighborhood boundaries, and what happens in Admiral might be relevant in Highland Park, or vice versa, etc. – editor@westseattleblog.com or, when breaking, 206-293-6302, text or voice.

29 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglar(s) hit Westwood Village; package thefts, including one on video"

  • sam-c December 7, 2014 (1:34 pm)

    thieves REALLY REALLY suck. I hope they are caught. Has anyone tried the box o poop surprise that is often mentioned here?

  • anonyme December 7, 2014 (1:38 pm)

    I’d love it if there were a way to put out dummy packages with those exploding color packs that banks use. What if hundreds of us put those out? Not only would it be hilarious to see these scumbags running around covered in non-washable Technicolor, but it would sure make them easy to spot and arrest. Of course, they won’t do any jail time, so I think we should bring back stocks in a public place (like the Junction!) so we could all see who they are – and let them know what we think of them, either verbally or in liquid form.

  • ~HockeyWitch~ December 7, 2014 (1:49 pm)

    Why do people have to be such low lives, stealing from others? Several years ago I had ordered a mouse pad with puppies on it.. watched the tracking for a week. Saw that it was delivered, got home and it wasn’t there.. Someone stole it from my doorstep. I quit having packages sent to my home.. I would send them to my work address instead. My new job doesn’t allow that, so I will be getting a PO box where things can be delivered. It’s ridiculous that I have to do that. I got an unexpected delivery the other day.. Small box sitting at my door. Saw the label so I knew who it was from, but was so SHOCKED that it was still sitting there… it hadn’t been stolen..
    Happy Holidays everyone.. I hope that the theives are caught and punished severely.

  • Steve&Marco December 7, 2014 (2:10 pm)

    Feel so badly for Kirk & Wyatt Jewelers…this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Hope they catch the piece of %#$& that did this!

  • Living in WS since '91 December 7, 2014 (2:47 pm)

    So sorry to hear about these thefts, especially Wyatt’s. They are wonderful people, great jewelers, and they are big supporters of the White Center and West Seattle communities.

  • ChrisBean December 7, 2014 (2:52 pm)

    The thief in the video looks like a dude to me. Looks like he’s trying to pass as a woman thief wearing pink, skeleton scarf, tights and knee high boots. Can’t wait until all these thieves experience the wrath of Karma.

  • kevin December 7, 2014 (3:19 pm)

    Several years ago, we had a missing package that was shown as delivered on the post office web site.
    .
    I contacted the postmaster at the Westwood PO, and he said he would speak with the carrier.
    .
    It turned out that our faithful carrier had carefully hidden the package near a covered patio door (which we never use in winter) at the side of the house. Hopefully the carrier did not get in trouble, but I thanked him later for his creative approach.
    .
    Since then, we have requested that all parcels be held at the PO for pickup.
    .
    Even better is to put in a request that all packages must be signed for.
    .

  • JanS December 7, 2014 (3:33 pm)

    let’s share this video…this guy needs to be famous in West Seattle !

  • SillyGoose December 7, 2014 (3:45 pm)

    It is hard to tell if this is a male in womens clothes or a woman with short hair!!

    I am so sorry for Kirk and Joanie, thieves stink!!

  • ryamkajr December 7, 2014 (4:20 pm)

    Here’s a trick for you to try:
    1. Take Amazon boxes from prior deliveries.

    2. Fill with garbage and/or dog crap. I find the dog crap works best.

    3. Repackage as if just delivered.

    4. Leave on your doorstep for would be thieves.

    5. Win!!!!!

  • Murdock December 7, 2014 (4:48 pm)

    Cameras are a great start. Although expensive, they provide great piece of mind and are very useful in identifying suspects. We recently got a couple cameras and feel much better being able to view out home and property anytime and from anywhere. Truly worth the investment. I don’t like the idea of having to have cameras, but sadly it’s part of protecting yourself…

  • Julia December 7, 2014 (5:13 pm)

    I wish there was an Amazon locker in West Seattle. Come on, 7-11’s! I’ve used the one on Madison and it worked out fine. I bought a Slurpee while I was there!

  • ChefJoe December 7, 2014 (5:54 pm)

    Julia, 7-11s in West Seattle now have Amazon lockers. There’s one in Admiral and another in Delridge area.

  • Elizh December 7, 2014 (6:18 pm)

    According to their website, there is an Amazon Locker at the 7-11 on Delridge near Barton, and also at the 7-11 on Admiral near California. You can have your Amazon purchases delivered to these 24 hr sites at no additional charge.

  • drahcir61 December 7, 2014 (7:03 pm)

    I can provide those interested with endless supplies of dog poop in bags to place in boxes … & free too! :-)

    A few suggestions (I’ve done this before!):

    DO NOT put your own name/address/contact info on the box … make a new label or remove the label altogether. You DO NOT want someone getting pissed, seeing your name/address, & coming back!

    I printed a cute label one time that said, “Homemade Fudge” from the Fudge Factory. Yeah I know, I have a warped sense of humor … hope they enjoyed it (they picked up 2 boxes!). :-)

  • Ttt December 7, 2014 (8:52 pm)

    That outfit is pretty unique. Someone has to be able to identify this person… Nice to know about the 7-11 amazon lockers in west seattle. I will have to tell my relatives about them, as they are the only ones that send us pkgs during the holidays. I have them sent to my parents, who are always home.

  • Ttt December 7, 2014 (8:54 pm)

    Is there a link to this you tube video so i can share it on fb?

    • WSB December 7, 2014 (8:59 pm)

      Anything embedded anywhere via YouTube, you can go to the full page by mousing over the lower right of the embed window and clicking on the YouTube icon. Also, you should be able to get embed/URL codes by mousing over the top of the window. We had to upload it to our YT account because it was e-mailed to us as a raw clip.

      • WSB December 7, 2014 (9:00 pm)

        … and of course you can share any WSB link (right click on headline to get URL if you are not looking in fullpost view, or use the ShareThis icon below the story to get options from FB to Twitter to e-mail and beyond)…

  • Mike December 7, 2014 (9:03 pm)

    time to install a BMW flamethrower at my doorstep
    http://jalopnik.com/a-flamethrower-option-for-your-bmw-was-once-a-totally-r-1547017088

  • Dawn December 8, 2014 (7:46 am)

    That looks like a woman to me. The boots and skull scarf actually look like my own, but mine are safely here at home. Please don’t assume I’m the thief if you see me out wearing my skully scarf. Mine is multicolored. : )

  • mona December 8, 2014 (10:48 am)

    The Amazon locker at 7-11 is super easy to use. I usually get my packages sent to my work, but this is way more convenient. You get an email/text with the code to open the locker with your packages inside.

  • Ex-Westwood Resident December 8, 2014 (12:04 pm)

    Theft and, in general, all property crime will continue and will rise the closer to Christmas. Catching the thieves will do nothing other than getting them off the street for about 24 hours.
    Until the City/County decides that prosecuting these “people” and locking them up for 6-12 months for each item stolen is going to happen, the thieves will have nothing to fear.

  • ryamkajr December 8, 2014 (1:31 pm)

    I JUST had a package “rummaged” outside my place near Westwood Village (Delridge/Thornton). Thieves cut open a large box that was delivered. Luckily (for me) it was full of dog toys and the thieves were not interested in them.

  • DarkHawke December 8, 2014 (1:53 pm)

    @Ex-Westwood Resident: Well said. The city can do all the “outreach” and “community policing” that they like, but until a commitment is made to incarcerating these S.O.B.s and not pleading out and letting them walk, our crime problems have only begun. They only become “career criminals” if we allow them to ply their “trade!”

  • Melissa Parson December 9, 2014 (6:25 am)

    Arbor Heights 42nd and 98th ave sw: had our mailbox broken into. They broke the lock right off. Mail gone.

    just noticed this yesterday Dec 8 but hadn’t checked mail for several days so not sure when thieves broke the box.

  • Kathy December 10, 2014 (12:17 am)

    The scarf has alien faces, “the grays”… In my opinion.

  • June December 12, 2014 (2:52 pm)

    Seriously feel bad for Wyatt Jewelers. Good people who have refitted watches for me in the past. I hope they catch the jerk. What is wrong with people nowadays? It’s called work hard and get a job!

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