WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Burglary attempts; Rudolph … recovered?

Two burglary attempts and a reindeer are in West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

5400 BLOCK FAUNTLEROY: Rasmus sent the photo and report:

Early this morning, someone tried breaking into our home office via the alley on the 5400 block. They got as far as popping out our screen, but gave up when our window self-locked after about an inch. Still, they were brave enough to enter our apartment parking lot, to get to the window.

I’d encourage everyone in the area to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious, possibly casing and targeting apartments in the area. We did report it to the police, case number 16-449387.

Later, they learned their neighbor’s car had been broken into overnight.

39TH AND JUNEAU: Brandon reports a break-in attempt around 9:45 am: “They saw me in the window and turned around; I went out to the back deck and yelled ‘HEY’ and they took off running … hopefully people keep a look out and these kids get caught.” He did get a look at the would-be intruders, describing them as “young black males, probably around 16 years old, one of them had a Seahawks beanie, but they were all wearing beanies and jackets and all had backpacks on.” He was filing a police report.

And just in:

STOLEN DECORATION? Kelly e-mailed to report, “There is a lighted Rudolph reindeer with a Santa hat Christmas decoration that was thrown in my front yard — Admiral area — I have no idea where it came from but would love to reunite it with its owner!” She sent this photo:

20161215_162822

Know of anyone whose Rudolph got removed?

5 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Burglary attempts; Rudolph ... recovered?"

  • Double Dub Resident December 15, 2016 (6:20 pm)

    These 2 burglary attempts aren’t all that far away from each other.  

    Witness states these POS are about 16 years old.  Won’t these  kids grow up to be stellar upstanding citizens.  Let’s skip school and go rob people.  I bet your parents would be proud 

  • WestCake December 15, 2016 (11:19 pm)

    What causes the distinction between a burglary and a prowling? I see the words used interchangeably on this site. 

    • WSB December 16, 2016 (7:54 am)

      Not in anything we write.

      Vehicle prowling is the official Seattle Municipal Code name for the crime of breaking into a vehicle /entering with criminal intent. That’s where “car prowl” comes from.
      https://www.municode.com/library/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT12ACRCO_SUBTITLE_ICRCO_CH12A.08OFAGPR_12A.08.120VEPR

      However, in the case of a home, business, building, etc., prowling = casing. It is something of a colloquial term – a prowler caught on someone’s property without authorization might be guilty of trespassing. Burglary = actually breaking in/otherwise entering with criminal intent. Attempted burglary = trying to.

      The one term that still seems to confuse many is robbery. We get a lot of reports of people saying they were “robbed” when they mean to say their residence/business was burglarized. Unfortunately I have even seen this misuse in published headlines/stories elsewhere. Two sections of the official Revised Code of Washington language might help:

      http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.56.190 (robbery)
      https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.52.025 (residential burglary)

      Those are not the only classifications of robbery/residential burglary but the language might help with anyone who doesn’t get the distinctions. – TR

  • Rick December 16, 2016 (8:09 am)

    You’re in my home unauthorized=shotgun. And that’s if you’re lucky. I’m not sure if my insurance pays to clean up the mess.

  • steve December 16, 2016 (8:40 am)

    Thieves take note. Correct me if I’m wrong… But from what I’ve read, breaking into a home is THE MOST dangerous thing you can do.   It certainly is at this residence.

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