West Seattle Crime Watch: Lincoln Park car break-in

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, a painful reminder that even the trunk isn’t a safe place to leave valuables in your vehicle. Gabriel reports: “My wife’s car was broken into around 11 am at the larger Lincoln Park parking lot. They shattered the driver’s window and stole items from the trunk (purse, credit cards, etc.). There were a lot of people around, but if anyone saw anything, they ignored it. … Small black leather purse, small black wallet were taken. Credit cards and a birth certificate were the main items of value (out of town traveler) taken. Several charges in West Seattle (Big 5, gas station, Home Depot) were made before the theft was discovered.” Police have said that car prowlers in parking lots can move quickly and stealthily without others nearby realizing what’s going on.

P.S. Another reminder that your monthly chance to bring crime/safety concerns to local police is this Tuesday (June 21st), the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). SPD’s chief operating officer Brian Maxey is the scheduled guest, focusing on SPD’s 911 system.

19 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Lincoln Park car break-in"

  • JanS June 20, 2016 (12:26 am)

    sadly, if you’re going to put things like your purse in the trunk of your car, you have to do it before you ever get to Lincoln park. They’re watching for things like that. You need to stop before you get to the park somewhere and put things in the trunk then, That way they don’t see you doing it, and know where things are :(

  • AIDM June 20, 2016 (3:50 am)

    First, most cars do have a means to disengage the trunk latch and the ability to access the trunk by putting down the seats, so that trunks are a fairly secure location for storing valuables while at the park i.e. more secure than the main compartment or glove box.  Second, never place valuables in your car in the location that you park it.  Its much more sensible to pull over 2-3 blocks before reaching the park and place any valuables in the trunk and then no one will see you and target you in the parking lot. I know its a hard lesson, but know that this person was being watched placing items in the trunk and was targeted based on this behavior. Third, not leaving valuables in your car is the best and safest option.

    • East Coast Cynic June 20, 2016 (7:03 am)

      At the very least, carry the money, the plastic, and the id (license, birth certificate) with you at all times if at all possible.

    • RC June 20, 2016 (11:16 am)

      And fourth,don’t have anything nice. If the thieves don’t take it your government will.

  • Double Dub Resident June 20, 2016 (6:00 am)

    I so tire of these POS who are so self entitled, they believe it is ok to take other people’s stuff. These people are absolutely worthless and are just a waste of space in this already over populated city.

     

    Every time my wife suggests we go to Lincoln Park, this is the first thing that pops in my head, the POS stalking the lots “shopping”.

     

    I’m sure at least one of the businesses has cameras that caught these people.  The businesses, the SPD, and the media need to coordinate in order to get these photos out there. This has got to stop.

     

      Also, if people see something SAY SOMETHING! The community also has to come together in order to combat these POS doing what they’re doing. If they see that people just don’t want to get involved, they’re going to become more and more brazen in what they’re doing. If we make it easy pickings, the criminals are going to stick around and keep doing what they’re doing. If we as a whole make it difficult, either they will be caught (best case) or they will at least move on.

     

    Criminals operate on a very simple risk vs. reward thinking, which is one of the reasons petty crime (I hate to use that term, same with victimless crime, because just because it is not physically violent, doesn’t make it victimless) is probably going up throughout the city. Seattle is soft on petty crime.  

     

      I wouldn’t be surprised if this wasn’t the same group of people doing this over and over.  

  • M June 20, 2016 (6:20 am)

    Why is it so hard to just install cameras already? 

    • AMD June 20, 2016 (8:26 am)

      Apparently cameras aren’t much of a deterrent so the city doesn’t think they’re the best way to prevent crime (this was the city’s answer to the same question about cameras at Seattle Center parking areas).

    • Marvin June 21, 2016 (12:28 am)

      Why no cameras? Because Seattle would rather you smoke weed on  newly striped bike lanes, and maintain an under staffed police department, than invite the water-walking-ACLU  and its Seattle-backed citizens, which would invariably be called upon if a camera was placed in a city park.

  • Gene June 20, 2016 (7:17 am)

    M- have you lived here long? Cameras – here in WS??? Ha! 

  • Kersti Muul June 20, 2016 (8:27 am)

    Park closes at 11….

    Pushing it

    • WSB June 20, 2016 (8:37 am)

      This was at 11 am (as mentioned in second line), not 11 pm.

  • Russ June 20, 2016 (8:44 am)

    Is this coin purse yours? It was found among the items recovered after our car was prowled on Saturday night.

  • Cathy June 20, 2016 (11:05 am)

    Russ,

    our car was prowled on 38th sw. I recovered some business cards of the woman who is looking for this purse.

    cathy 

  • Cathy June 20, 2016 (11:09 am)

    Wsb,

    if you can put me in touch with Russ so we can get the purse back to its owner it would be great. Thx, cathy

  • Seattlite June 20, 2016 (12:08 pm)

     Never, ever leave anything in your car.  Even if it’s any empty bag,  don’t leave it in your car because criminals will break your car windows for that empty bag.  I’m sorry for all of the folks who are victims of these heinous criminals that prey on cars.  

  • Cathy June 20, 2016 (12:42 pm)

    That was not her purse after all. She’s missing a flowered one if anyone turns one up.

  • j June 20, 2016 (6:14 pm)

    The person that broke into our car at Lincoln Park ran into the burned down meth house across the street (prior to being burned down) . Wonder if that house is still a problem. Have to assume so judging by the existing conditions. 

  • Meow11 June 21, 2016 (8:37 am)

    I regularly go to the park to exercise and have purposely stopped bringing my phone and wallet with me at all. If we see suspicious activity, we should just call the police, I guess?? Unsure if they will be able to make it there in time. Any other suggestions? 

  • Tiredoftheaccusations June 23, 2016 (10:15 am)

    Why do you have to make the comment about the so called “Meth House” do you even know for sure? Most likely no, you do do not.  You know what they say about Assuming.  You don’t know anything about the owner of the property, he is a very kind person who cares for people and has always been there to help people who are in need,  even if it puts him in a difficult situation.   If there is a problem it is you assuming the worst about people.  If there is a drug issue remember it is an illness and does not define who a person is.    By the way, there are lots of teenagers just looking to cause trouble  because their parents did not teach them respect, hope you are not one of those parents.  Did you even see the person break into your car?  Maybe they were just out for a run and ran home just passing by your car not wanting to get involved.  As you said the home had a devastating fire, how terrible for the people involved and devastating for the owner who lost so much including a loving pet, a lifetime of cherished memorabilia and many items from his previous business that were being stored there.  All due to helping someone out with a roof over their head when they needed one.  He is a survivor and he will  survive this it will just take time. My thoughts and prayers are with them all!

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