West Seattle Crime Watch: More Westcrest Park car break-ins

westcrest

That photo is from Nancy, one of two smashed-in vehicle windows she noticed at Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area late today. We’ve had other reader reports lately, and the SPD crime-report map shows nine car-prowl reports in the general Westcrest vicinity in the past month, though that’s likely an undercount, since some don’t report it and some file online, which takes a while to work through the system. While an SPD “car-prowl prevention” one-sheet mentions calling 911, Nancy says today’s victims tried that and were pointed to the non-emergency line, where they gave up while waiting (as we’ve been reporting, the call center has fewer 911 lines while renovations are under way and calltakers are in temporary quarters).

Don’t leave anything in your car; you might not be as “lucky” as one recent victim, whose backpack and wallet were stolen from her car – also via window-smashing – while she was walking her dogs; the backpack was found tossed aside at 14th and Barton, according to the finder, who contacted us while trying to locate the owner. The victim told the finder that hundreds of dollars were run up on the cards in her wallet before she got them canceled.

11 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: More Westcrest Park car break-ins"

  • A lover of westcrest dog park May 3, 2016 (9:16 pm)

    Many of the break ins that occurred at Westcrest were in broad daylight, at times when the Dog Park was fairly busy, the thieves have become quite bold.  Please folks – keep your eyes and ears open, report suspicious behavior, folks without a dog loitering.  And – if you are broken into, even if nothing is taken – please please please take time to report it.  We need to document the high level of break ins at Westcrest, it is the only thing that will start to get more attention to area.

    • Dog Walker May 4, 2016 (10:27 pm)

      Two cars (including mine) were broken into this evening at the Westcrest Dog park at around 7:45-8pm. I was only gone for about 10-15 minutes, when I returned, my drivers side window was smashed in, the other vehicle’s passenger side window was broken. Luckily no items were left in my vehicle, and the other victims items were actually intact (including the guys wallet).  We were parked on the south end parking lot loop towards the east. Please keep an eye out.

  • ACG May 3, 2016 (11:26 pm)

    Is this parking lot different than the one which is nearest the new playground equipment?

  • Nancy Folsom May 4, 2016 (6:25 am)

    There was a witness. I posted to WSB (thanks for reporting it) partly in hopes that the witness will call the police to give them what information she has. (And can dedicate a little time to be on hold.)

    What more can we do to convince people to not leave wallets and other valuables in their cars? Not to say they’re to blame, burglery is a crime, make no mistake.

    • Christina Gonzales May 4, 2016 (9:43 am)

      Nancy- Thanks for reporting this to the blog.  Mine is the black car that you took a photo of.  I too hope the person who saw it happen comes forward, although I did give her account of the incident to the police.  

      Christina

  • NotOnHolden May 4, 2016 (8:20 am)

    Even if you don’t leave anything in your car in sight it still happens.  Someone busts your window and they go through miscellaneous crap from the glove box and throw it all over the place.  My local car prowlers have now learned how to get into the trunk through the back seats so I need to remember to lock those.  I’ve stopped locking my car because I do not want to deal with the broken window.

  • WSGirl May 4, 2016 (8:51 am)

    Based on the Westcrest Facebook page, I’d guess there’s been twice as many as that over the past month. 

  • MJ May 4, 2016 (9:32 pm)

    Aren’t there junkies that live/hangout in the forest behind that park? Last time I took the dog for a run on the trails there it seemed a little sketchy. 

  • Taro Sakita May 4, 2016 (10:38 pm)

    Just had my vehicle broken into this evening! I’m regular there and this is staring to be a very common occurrence! I know of 7 incidences in at least the past 3 weeks! If this doesn’t qualify as a problem issue, I don’t know what does!

  • Westcrest Steward May 5, 2016 (12:30 am)

    As steward of Westcrest Offleash area for 14 years, we’ve NEVER seen anything like this before! We often get hit a couple times in the spring and summer. But this this epidemic proportions! It’s been about 15 breakins in 2 weeks! Last week I spent 2 hours cleaning up 7 piles of glass, then 2 days later 2 more piles.

    There is no pattern or certain times of the crimes, but all have been in broad daylight! Pics of possible suspects and vehicles have been posted on the Westcrest Offleash area Facebook site.

    An eye witness to yesterdays 2 breakins identified an African American couple in their 30’s, driving a possible Ford Bronco, with gray primer. Their method was to back into a spot between 2 vehicles, the driver broke into car on his side, while the passenger did the same on her side.

    The possible same couple has also been identified on several occasions in an older gold Honda Accord.

    We put a bench near the entrance..PLEASE! PLEASE! spend a few minutes sitting there monitoring the parking lot! We’re our own community watch cause no one else has our backs! It’s a great park and we can’t give in or be intimidated by these pricks..THEY MUST BE STOPPED!!

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