WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen van to watch for

Ron e-mailed to ask you to be on the lookout for that distinctive stolen vehicle:

Our 1985 VW Westfalia Van was stolen from 60th Ave and Admiral Way in Alki area. White van with black bra on front, roof rack (spare tire on roof) and side ladder. Black rims also. Driver’s side window broken out. WA plate ANJ9602. If seen or found, please call Paul at 206-295-9547 or email phuggett@mac.com.

They believe it was taken Friday afternoon, and yes, they have notified local shops and Vanagon groups.

23 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen van to watch for"

  • Craig February 13, 2017 (9:25 am)

    Man, that’s terrible. Odd vehicle to take too. I’ll keep an eye out. 

    • Tom February 13, 2017 (12:54 pm)

      Not really, that van was worth $7,000 in 2007, 15-20k in 2017.  However vans are often stolen cuz they are old, not theft controlled & offera place to sleep. 

  • A-Red February 13, 2017 (9:28 am)

    Wishing you good luck. I have a similar van and I live very near you. It’s a sickening thought that your van was stolen.

  • Hillary February 13, 2017 (9:35 am)

    I’m another West Seattle Vanagon owner. Will be on the look-out!

  • Brad February 13, 2017 (10:15 am)

    Thanks WSB for supporting the community as well as you do. Ron and Paul are great neighbors and the theft of their van pains all of us. Hopefully, one of your readers finds it and helps get it returned.

  • Wseattleite February 13, 2017 (12:10 pm)

    Oh man. Than van is legendary, with many adventures. (To include Ragnar). Hope it comes back. The owners deserve better. 

  • annika February 13, 2017 (2:29 pm)

    I’m another alki resident vanagon owner.  I feel your pain – my syncro is my metal baby.   I will be keeping my eye for it, as well.  Hoping it will be found very soon!

  • Rhonda Porter February 13, 2017 (2:41 pm)

    I posted it on Beach Drive Blog’s FB page too… I hope your van is found soon!

  • kikker4444 February 13, 2017 (7:55 pm)

    Thanks everyone for your kind words and looking out for our van.  What a great community we live in!

    Best,

    Ron and Paul  

  • Deanna DelRosso February 13, 2017 (8:12 pm)

    Watching in Ashland and Medford area.  Shared.  So sorry this happened.  

  • Anonymous February 13, 2017 (10:53 pm)

    Just spotted this van, called the cops and I’m pretty sure they got it! Glad to help!

    • Brad February 14, 2017 (4:24 am)

      Will you provide more details? Thanks!

    • kikker4444 February 14, 2017 (7:38 am)

      Hi Anonymous, 

      The police still list it as stolen and not recovered. If you can provide any more information we would greatly appreciate it. You can call us at 206-295-9547.  MANY thanks for your help.  

      Ron and Paul

  • kikker4444 February 14, 2017 (1:07 pm)

    Hi All. The police have not confirmed it was our van! :(  Anonymous, it would would be great to know the area where you saw it.  Can you let us know please?  Thanks a lot!  Ron and Paul

    • Anonymous February 14, 2017 (2:58 pm)

      It was spotted in South Park, the police waited for a driver to return to the vehicle and then were in pursuit the last I saw. It is possible that the driver eluded them, but I highly doubt it. There were two cruisers involved, I doubt a Vanagon could have out run them. Hopefully you get more info soon.

  • Mike February 14, 2017 (10:53 pm)

    Hope you get it back in good condition.  That sucks.

  • annika February 15, 2017 (6:49 pm)

    Any update?

  • Ron gagliardo February 16, 2017 (7:56 am)

    Great news!  Our van was recovered last night. We are waiting on more details but the SPD found it. Thanks to everyone for looking out for it, we really appreciate it!  

    • WSB February 16, 2017 (8:09 am)

      In South Park, I hear? Please do e-mail us followup info when you get it … we will want to publish something separate to let folks know.

    • Kali February 18, 2017 (10:13 pm)

      It was recovered ib front of my parents’ house. They caught the vehicle on the cameras on the house.  Saw two men and a lady. I can give you more details if you read this. 

  • Anonymous February 17, 2017 (10:59 pm)

    Yes please tell us were the thieves took their loot. Thankfully it was far far away from West  Seattle.

    • Anonymous February 18, 2017 (2:46 am)

      My apologies that was a cynical and snarky comment…  I’m a big fan of the work that  the WSB does, its my family’s go to source for timely news in SW Seattle. I’m  glad I was able to alert the authorities and reunite this van with it’s rightful owner. But I do take issue with a potential NEW follow up post regarding the when and where this car was recovered. One stolen car, while traumatic to its owners isn’t news. I’m sure this wasn’t the only car stolen in West Seattle last week but it seems to be the only stolen car story featured in the WSB, that I could see.  An update in this thread seems most appropriate. A new thread highlighting that this stolen car was found in South Park only serves to stereotype an entire neighborhood. The where is immaterial, it could have been Lake City, Marysville, Skyway or Kent.

  • Sadtaco February 18, 2017 (1:58 am)

    ^ West Seattle and South Park are not that far away. The only limit on how far a thief wants to go is his imagination.

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