West Seattle Crime Watch: Diaper-bag-stealing car prowler(s); package and mail theft; more

| Arbor Heights | Crime | Highland Park | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news

The newest reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

ARBOR HEIGHTS CAR BREAK-IN: From Shaun:

Wanted to report that our Chevy Tahoe had two windows busted out last night. Perp(s) took diaper bag with my wife’s wallet inside along with various other property, daughter’s new bday purse, CD’s….Theft occurred at approx. 3 am and set off car alarm. Car was parked at curb in front of our house.

Shaun is near 39th SW/SW 106th in Arbor Heights; when we followed up to get that information, he added, “I’ve learned that the perp/s attempted to rent 4 video games at a Redbox at 5 am. The kiosk in question is located at a 7-Eleven near 112th St S and 8th Ave S.” (We found it on Google Street View.)

HIGHLAND PARK PACKAGE THEFT: Erika near 17th SW/SW Kenyon thought her package had been stolen, then contacted Amazon and was told it actually hadn’t been delivered – and then the sad truth: “My neighbor just came by with a ripped-open package that she found in our alley near her garbage, with one item found intact on the ground and another taken out of its packaging and it’s gone. … The contents included a bag of dishwashing detergent pods and a tub of Honest brand pregnancy belly balm. What a score.” She says this stirs up bad memories from a burglary last summer, but want to be sure everyone’s aware of “activity in our neighborhood.”

MAIL THEFT: From Corey:

I wanted to report continued mail theft in Highland Park neighborhood. I have now found mail discarded on lawns and stuffed in bushes on
three different occasions/3 different addresses, around 18th-20th Ave SW and Trenton St. The first occasion was in late November, the second
right before Christmas, and (Friday) January 22nd. The mail has all been from homes in Highland Park and within a few block of where I found it.

MAILBOX BREAK-IN: Mike reports this happened to his mailbox in the 7300 block of 35th SW in Sunrise Heights.

ALSO IN SUNRISE HEIGHTS: Todd at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) reports a potential case of casing outside the shop at 35th/Webster around 9 pm Thursday night. They reviewed video from their surveillance camera after noticing it was “tilted up – as if someone had pushed it out of place.” The video shows someone walking in front of the camera and hiding his face, then a few minutes later walking back and pushing the camera up while walking under it. Todd says they didn’t find anything else out of place or damaged but wanted to alert the neighborhood.

Thanks to everyone who shares reports via West Seattle Crime Watch – once you’ve reported it to police, share it with your neighbors all around the peninsula by e-mailing editor@westseattleblog.com – for breaking news (once you’ve called 911), text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Gina January 23, 2016 (3:09 pm)

Earlier this week in Lowman Beach area there was someone casing houses. He left when the door was answered, waving a spray bottle. Said he was washing windows at the neighbors. Last seen trotting off into the distance toward Lincoln Park.

Rick January 23, 2016 (3:58 pm)

Sounds like the west is returning to it’s lawless ways. At least back then the outlaws had some semblance of a code of ethics.

Rene January 23, 2016 (4:35 pm)

Corey: I also have found a lot of discarded mail in the Trenton/Delridge area. Mostly from the 8622 Delridge apartments. A call was placed to SPD and they came out and took a report and the found mail on Thursday 1-21-16 @ about 6pm. I also had some video evidence to give to the officer as well. Hopefully SPD can make something of it. Oddly enough, they very next day there was even more mail on the ground, from the same address/apt building.

Claire Swazey January 23, 2016 (6:45 pm)

I live on SW 97th, near 35th/37th Aves. We’ve had mail stolen 3 times that we know of(probably happened more than that) and on 2 occasions our mail was found in Tukwila. These crooks probably pull up to mailboxes, open the lid and scoop out the contents quickly. We converted our mailbox to a locked one over a year ago.

JanS January 23, 2016 (8:31 pm)

Rick…crime happens everywhere…it’s not exclusive to West Seattle.

Eric January 23, 2016 (8:37 pm)

Worthless people. Where’s Bob Barker when you need him?

Joanna January 23, 2016 (9:54 pm)

Corey-We’ve had at least 3 small packages stolen from our mailbox lately (20th and Trenton). One of those packages was left on our door step late one night. It was torn and empty. I assumed it was a kind neighbor letting me know they found the empty package on the street or some bush. It seems I was right. The latest suspicious incident was this morning. After getting the mail yesterday, I securely shut the mailbox and this morning I noticed that our mailbox was wide open soaked inside with water. There is no way it opened by itself. Someone must have opened it checking for mail and left it open. Luckily I had already gotten the previous day’s mail and that day’s mail had not been delivered yet. Does anyone know if I’m allowed to move my mailbox down the steps and closer to my door to prevent the easy access from the sidewalk?

AMD January 24, 2016 (4:04 am)

There are plenty of houses with the mail box closer to the door. I would assume as long as you’re not on a street that has banks of mail boxes rather than individual ones at each house it would be okay.https://www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm

Ana January 24, 2016 (3:24 am)

I’ve been having my packages delivered at my in-laws house …..but not anymore apparently southpark is having mail and packages stolen also, particularly Amazon packages but also other smaller packages and mail. Which is weird because as shady as that area has a reputation of being… Mail hadn’t been reported stolen in a long time. I wonder what’s up with these mail thieves lately … Today the mail man actually took a walk all the way up to the front door, past the two gate doors, the dogs and all and hid my in-laws mail and a package behind a potted plant away from the street view. Theyre very much aware and concerned of the mail thievery happening.

Rick January 24, 2016 (7:19 am)

Jan S. – Thank you for your insight and wisdom, I’d have never known. Jeeze!

Eric January 24, 2016 (8:14 am)

@Rick, LOL

East Coast Cynic January 24, 2016 (9:21 am)

For me, all packages either get mailed to work or a mailbox business.

Forcemajeure January 24, 2016 (9:45 am)

+1 Rick

Corey January 25, 2016 (9:21 pm)

After noticing mail discarded the second time we purchased a locking mail box. All other packages I now have delivered to work. Including the rather heavy locking mail box.

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