West Seattle Crime Watch: Thieves at it, again

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes with warnings about theft:

WESTCREST PARK: Via scanner this afternoon, a report of car prowlers on the loose again – someone broke a car window, grabbed a purse, took off in a car with no plates. (That’s all the description we heard.)

LINCOLN PARK: Greg sent this report about what he saw last Sunday, thinking it might help you understand how car prowlers work. We missed it until a mailbox review today, but still enlightening:

When I was driving down Fauntleroy from the ferry dock direction toward Morgan Junction, I saw a woman breaking into a car in the first parking lot directly after the dock.

This woman was mid-40s? or slightly older but it was difficult to tell her age because she looked like a longtime drug addict/meth head. She had very bright burgundy red dyed hair and was dressed like a jogger, with maroon stretch pants and a white sleeveless stretch top. She drives a white Scion xb, the box like looking car a 2004-2007 model (the front ends are different), and the car was clean and would not stand out in any way.

As I was stuck driving behind a bus we were waiting on Fauntleroy and out of the corner of my eye I noticed this woman get out of the passenger side of her vehicle and then suddenly push her body against the car parked next to her and start jerking her hands up and down, it took me a moment to realize that she was using a slim jim and trying to pop the lock on the car, while she looked around making sure nobody was watching. What surprised me is that there were a ton of people getting in and out of cars, but no one was paying this woman any attention as she was dressed like any other park goer and was parked close enough to the other car to attend to her business without being seen.

I wound down my window to get a better look and this is when the woman turned and saw me staring right at her, so she then proceeded to do a bunch of exaggerated stretching like she was going for a run while I was staring at her. This part was comical as this woman although dressed like the average park going runner, looked like she had never exercised a day in her life and the haggard look of her face screamed drug abuse and I could clearly see the slim jim in her hand the entire time she was pantomiming being a jogger getting ready for her run.

I was on the way to drop off my 3 year old daughter or I would have jumped out of my car and at least gotten some pictures, but I dialed 911 and informed them what I was witnessing and then went and dropped off my kid about 5 minutes away.

On the way back to Arbor Heights, the parking lots of Lincoln park had at least two cop cars in each lot, way to go WS Police for the quick reaction, so I parked and spoke to one of the officers and pointed out that although the woman was not currently in sight her car was still in the lot. When I left they were leaving an officer stationed down the road to wait for the woman to return to her car.

Did they find her? We don’t know but will be looking for an incident number so we can try to find out.

WARNING FOR SALE HOSTS: From Kristi:

My tenant (in Upper Alki) was having a moving sale and her purse with her house and car keys, money, and credit cards was stolen from an off-limits bathroom whose door was closed and it was in the middle of the house, not in a back corner. The police were called and we changed all the locks.

P.S. Both the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council and Block Watch Captains Network are on meeting hiatus for the next two months but there’s another opportunity to talk about neighborhood crime/safety – the focus groups that researcher Jennifer Burbridge is hosting – check this recent WSB story for the list.

Double Dub Resident July 2, 2016 (5:30 pm)

I went to the very north part of Lincoln Park the other day with my daughter. As we made our way in, I saw a group of 4, what I would call meth heads with a camp like set up going on. It sucks trying to take your child to the park to have fun and see this. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t at least be partially responsible for all the parking lot break ins there.

Bonnie July 3, 2016 (2:38 pm)

I was talking to the attendant at the wading pool the other day and was told that the police had to be called because some woman who was high on something was bothering people at the wading pool. Yelling at the kids, etc. I was told that this same woman had been at the park recently and seems to be taking up residence there.

Double Dub Resident July 2, 2016 (5:36 pm)

PS. Sorry for the bad grammar. I was thinking of two different ways of saying that last part. I meant to say weren’t, not didn’t

candrewb July 2, 2016 (6:55 pm)

Thank you Greg.

MrsB July 2, 2016 (10:01 pm)

Which parking lot at Westcrest? The one by the Seattle Police horse barn and the P-Patch or the one that leads directly into the off-leash area? It’s helpful to know where to avoid!

WSB July 2, 2016 (10:14 pm)

MrsB, I’m sorry that in this case I don’t know. It was just a snippet of scanner traffic but since I was working on Crime Watch anyway, I thought it worth mentioning, since the park in general has had car-prowl trouble … and despite years now of “don’t leave anything in your car anywhere,” people are still doing it …
- Dan July 10, 2016 (8:54 am)
  
  Just because belongings are in the car, it doesn’t give a theif the right to take them. I can’t stand thieves. I say long jail sentences and community service for them.

Carole July 2, 2016 (11:05 pm)

Walking home from the Junction last night about 11 someone had set up a tent on the sidewalk at the main door of The Gold Thread (tailoring and alterations) on California.

Evan Jones July 2, 2016 (11:41 pm)

Or, you know, you could describe the incident without all the judgment and labeling of people. They were trying to break into a car. Enough said. You don’t need to ascribe motives and history to someone who is committing a crime. I’m so tired of this blog’s comments and whining about the terrible crime and traffic changes and drug problems. Y’all a bunch of privileged, sheltered whiners. I’m so happy for you that no one in your life has ever been down on their luck or affected by addiction or mental health issues. Do something to change what you don’t like and improve the world or STFU.

IMHO July 3, 2016 (1:49 am)

Truth! Be the change you want to see in the world.
Free speech July 3, 2016 (3:27 am)

Perhaps if your tired of the blog Evan stop reading, crime has increased and what you describe as whining is a high level of frustration of so many in our community with the violence, traffic, density etc. our concerns are as valid , that certainly doesn’t make us all privileged whinners, but concerned citizens
flimflam July 3, 2016 (9:17 am)

so you’d like more kindness and understanding towards the thieves? give me a break.
steve July 3, 2016 (12:53 pm)

Evan, I just wanted to share with you, that most of my “privileged and sheltered” family has been touched by addiction and mental health issues. Many people have these problems. But still, I (they), get up everyday and go to work. We try to set an example by working hard, and doing things that our mama’s would be proud of. This is how we do our part. Us simpletons DO make a difference by being respectful of others, NOT breaking into other’s cars. Evan, I think you need an attitude adjustment, or this poison is gonna eat you up.
Dan July 10, 2016 (9:01 am)

You made valid points, however, there are no excuses for stealing or damaging property that could be expensive to replace or was given to a family member. There is no reason why someone as you described cannot earn an honest living and live a decent life.

LStephens July 3, 2016 (7:39 am)

Thank goodness we have Evan Jones to be the judge of how everyone else should feel or we should STFU. BTW Evan, you’re free to not read the blog.

I’m particularly impressed how Evan says:

“Or, you know, you could describe the incident without all the judgment and labeling of people. “, but in the next sentence “Y’all a bunch of privileged, sheltered whiners.”

Thanks Evan for the judgement and labeling! Just what are you doing to be the change you so kindly speak of?

People are sick and tired of burglaries, thefts, break-ins and other threatening behavior. It robs people of their sense of security for their vehicles, homes and even their persons, not to mention the money and valuable time spent dealing with the troubles caused.

Drug addicts seem to lose their sense of right and wrong while doing drugs, ie: don’t touch it, break into it, steal it or damage something that doesn’t belong to them. Meth-heads didn’t come by their reputation by doing good in the world instead of stealing other’s valuables.

For the record, we’ve seen drug addiction first hand in our family, with my 5-year old nephew being left in-charge of his infant baby sister while his supremely-selfish drug-addict parents went looking to score more drugs. The police didn’t look kindly at that situation.

Maybe people wouldn’t be so quick label or judge if the actions of drub addicts and thieves didn’t affect others in a negative way. Anyone whose home or car or personal safety has been threatened has certainly earned the privilege to label or judge the injustices done to them by these criminals.

And Evan, thanks for the STFU, really nice and articulate. Not to mention that must the good change in the world you’re advocating for.

Double Dub Resident July 3, 2016 (7:51 am)

And to add, you don’t know what people do or don’t do to better the world either

Cynical girl July 3, 2016 (8:39 am)

Ya know Evan , you too should practice what you preach about judging and labeling people. I’m not privileged, I’m not going to celebrate “mental illness”, I’m not going to stop complaining about not feeling safe.

Gene July 3, 2016 (9:30 am)

Evan Jones-wow- angry much?

How in the world do you know that folks commenting( whining- in your words) have never been touched by addiction or mental health issues? You know – we can all – try to help & make things better- in many ways- or to quote IMHO-” be the change you want to see in the world” but that doesn’t mean tolerating crime. Did it occur to you that finding this woman- will be the start of getting her the help she needs?

Evan Jones July 3, 2016 (1:12 pm)

I never suggested tolerating crime or anything like that. But complaining about things on a blog doesn’t do anything to fix the problem. I’m all for reporting it and sharing information. It’s just the tone of the original commenter that annoyed me. Labeling people makes them an other and abdicates responsibility. If you’re starting from that place it’s never going to produce meaningful change.

Seattlite July 3, 2016 (1:55 pm)

Complaining is part of letting feelings and opinions known. Dysfunction (crime, drugs, gangs) needs to be recognized for what they are. Because unless it’s recognized it won’t be corrected. Seattle’s leaders need to be in the forefront of addressing crime, drug, gang problems that are plaguing this city…that’s what leaders are supposed to do. Each family handles their own dysfunction or not in their own way with results or not.
Gene July 3, 2016 (2:23 pm)

Who says complaining on the blog doesn’t fix anything- how do you know ?

Awareness comes in all forms- ” complaining” as you call it is one.

I see your point – re: original post about labeling- but then you turned around & pretty much did the same thing.

Read Seattlites comment above- spot on.

Double Dub Resident July 3, 2016 (4:28 pm)

Wait a minute Evan, listen to yourself, you’re complaining about labeling people when that’s the very thing that you have done.

Superoptimistic July 3, 2016 (5:18 pm)

Addiction and mental gealth problem suffers are victims, and their situations are very sad.

However, once you lose your civility, and start stealing from others- you are certainly fair game for pointed criticism. I don’t like to have to guard or secure my things at all times, to keep some poor addicted person (or whatever the excuse is) from stealing them.