WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business robbery; gym theft; mail stolen; bicycle taken

Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BUSINESS ROBBERY: Bree at Alki Mail and Dispatch reports a robbery Friday evening:

I just wanted to warn other small businesses in the area to be vigilant and aware. Last night at 5:15pm we had a snatch and grab robbery in the shop. A man who appeared to be of Middle Eastern decent, about 6′ tall and around 180 lbs and I would guess to be in his 30s, came in and ordered a coffee. When my employee rang him up and the cash drawer opened, he reached over and grabbed the money from the till and ran out the door. Another employee bravely gave chase but was unable to catch him. He ran south along 47th avenue and was then picked up by a black male with dreadlocks in a red car, possibly a Honda, with plate # BCL23–. Police reports were filed and thankfully no one was injured and he only got away with $148 but I would hate for this to happen to anyone else!

GYM THEFT: From Julie:

When LA Fitness says they are not responsible for lost and and stolen items they mean it! Use at your own risk. My purse was stolen from the women’s locker room of the LA Fitness on Alaska between 5:30 and 6:30 pm Thursday Aug 10th. I was not the only one whose purse was stolen. Another woman came to the front desk to report her purse stolen too.

There was actually a staff member in the women’s locker room who was vacuuming during that time. Apparently she didn’t see anything. It would be nice if they had cameras in the workout area. At least they could review the footage to who was coming and going at that time. They are able to see who checked in at the front desk.

In case you’ve found a dumped purse – it’s a chocolate-colored Travelon – ironically, called the “anti-theft classic mini-shoulder bag.”

MAIL THEFT: Derek reported that in the 10 am hour Friday, “We just (in the past hour) got hit by a very brazen mail thief in the 9600 block of 25th Ave SW. 5’6″ to 5’8″ African American female, putting everyone’s mail into several reusable grocery bags,” wearing a “long-sleeved shirt and skull cap,” and, Derek adds, “working with a taller African American male with several grocery bags and a wheeled suitcase.” KCSO and SPD were both searching for the thieves, last seen headed north on 24th SW in the Westwood area.

BICYCLE TAKEN: From Colleen:

A man’s large frame black Trek Allant bicycle was stolen from the secure garage of our condo building in the 5000 block of California SW sometime between 1:30 pm Wednesday and 9 pm Thursday. It was cut from a secure wall mount. Serial number WYU074C6092K. Seattle Police Incident #17-295719. Please be on the lookout for this new bike.

12 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business robbery; gym theft; mail stolen; bicycle taken"

  • Mary August 12, 2017 (10:56 am)

    I must be so naive. Baffles me that we have so much petty crime in WS. If and when it is me I would feel so victimized and vulnerable. Thankful for my secured apartment complex (Spruce).

    LA Fitness purse locker room snatchings – did you leave your purse unattended in the locker room? (It is 1000% wrong to take what is not yours, I’m just curious how this happened.)

    • Findlay August 12, 2017 (12:27 pm)

      A lock was cut off. Cards spent for $800 at Target and Home Depot within the hour of theft. Some ‘professionals’ in action. LA Fitness doesn’t care.

      • Mary August 12, 2017 (2:49 pm)

        WOW! Holy smokes. I would have never guessed about the LA Fitness locker room thefts. I’ve used locks for lockers and bikes over the years. I am sorry! As I live upstairs maybe I can provide a safeguarding service while woman workout. You are right, sounds like professionals at work. Ugh!

  • Mark August 12, 2017 (12:36 pm)

    A nickel for each bike theft in Seattle and I would be retired and out of here.  

    Why can’t the system crack down on the bike theft epidemic? It is very frustrating, bike theft in a City trying to be bike friendly kinda defeats the goal?

    It is time for the SPD and the courts to crack down on the thieves.  You steal a bike you will pay restitution and conduct 40 hours of litter pick up 1st offense, second offense double restitution and 80 hours.  Third offence jail time and restitution.

    • Peter August 12, 2017 (2:37 pm)

      Sad but true. Bikes are easy to snatch, easy to transport, many locks are ineffective, they’re hard to trace and easy to resell or chop.

      Although my bike is an ancient, heavy hunk of steel that nobody wants, someone did steal my lock and lights once, and left the bike! True story. 

    • Wb August 12, 2017 (7:36 pm)

      Straight to jail. For some victims, biking is their main source of transportation. 

    • Steve August 13, 2017 (7:39 am)

      I been saying this… lots of bikes are taken to the homeless encampment under the bridge. On Spokane st. Police could start there.

  • newnative August 12, 2017 (1:15 pm)

    Too many thefts from locked lockers at one place that refuses to investigate to be a coincidence. And this time an employee was present. I would never spend a dime there. 

  • 4thGenWestSide August 12, 2017 (1:18 pm)

    Strange about LA Fitness.  Maybe they don’t treat their employees very well.  Most seem unhappy / detached there.  We’ve had (smaller) thefts of 3 water bottles (fairly nice double walled ones) that were sitting next to the machine we were working out on.  2 had no lids!  Happened to both of my kids & myself.  Also complained to them about a local man (known) who comes in and takes photos of younger women while pretending to work out. We had left the old WS Health Club because of him, but he has since followed.  Can’t afford to keep switching clubs, and after written complaints to both corporate office & WS branch, he’s still there.  I know of a few others who have had similar experiences.  Now we just go later and I accompany my daughters.  End of rant.  

  • newnative August 12, 2017 (2:42 pm)

    My gym (lower Queen Anne) has a strict no photos policy. I have (accidentally) left my locker unlocked with nothing taken and once forgot my combo lock and it was placed in plain sight the next time I came in. It really should be a supportive community. If I caught some ahole taking pictures I would get super loud. No excuses. 

  • H August 12, 2017 (9:50 pm)

    Gyms. I left the WS Y because some creeper couldn’t stop starring at me in the sauna, I left and continued my workout, backstroke, in the pool. When I stood up he was couched at the end of my lane filming me with his phone, hidden by his posture but clearly pointed right at me. Confirmed when he left abruptly after I made eye contact. 

  • Mark August 13, 2017 (12:40 pm)

    My gym also has a no photo policy in the locker room.  All users have to check in also.  Rarely are there theft incidents.

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