West Seattle Crime Watch: Religious items stolen; car break-in attempt

Two reports to share this morning – one, a car break-in that netted the thieves religious items as well as more common loot, so the victim’s hoping you will keep an eye out in case they were discarded; the other, an attempted car theft. Both after the jump:

First, from Jackie on 22nd SW between Trenton and Cloverdale:

I had my car broken into (overnight) and my wallet, id, laptop, iPhone, headsets, etc. were stolen. I know these things are just things but I also had my Tibetan Buddhist texts and books and pictures of my precious teachers in there. Unfortunately, the person who stole these items will probably only think of the value of laptop and such and throw away the Buddhist texts.

How can I get word out to folks in my area to call me or my husband if they find interesting papers or text, wrapped in red brocade to call us? We found my bag and some little items strewing down Cloverdale heading east towards the high school track and soccer field.

Our number is 206-617-8562. I did call the police and they took a report. Folks can call them also. Incident report # 11-44483.

Police say it over and over and over again, and maybe Jackie’s story will remind you – don’t EVER leave ANYTHING in your car. Meantime, somebody tried to break into a car belonging to someone else named Jackie, this time in the Admiral District:

Sometime between 1 and 6 am someone made an unfruitful attempt to break into or possibly steal our car Saturday night. It was parked behind our place in the breezeway 5 ft from our building where there is A LOT of foot traffic late at night. I say attempt because there is only damage to the driver-side door lock which is now unusable. It will need to be replaced and looks like they tried to use a screwdriver to gain entry. I didn’t notice anything when we got in first thing, the car was still locked. My bf got had let me in from the passenger side so I had no idea anything was wrong until I tried to use the key later on in the day. We then checked and found nothing from the car missing. It was one of only a handful of nights we forgot to put “The Club” on our 02 Saturn so I am wondering if that was the reason, to actually take it. There wasn’t anything in the car of interest or value visible.

The reason I am mentioning it to WSB is because a friend of mine had her similar model mid to late 90s Saturn stolen at the beginning of this last December, just a block away from where we live off California Ave in Admiral District.
So this is kind of a heads up I guess.

toddinwestwood February 7, 2011 (12:42 pm)

I am really sorry your car was broken into and your stuff stolen. The people of Seattle will tell you and everyone else, never leave valuables in your car for any length of time. All it takes is someone walking by to see a laptop, a bag, a phone to break a window and grab all your stuff.

miws February 7, 2011 (1:06 pm)

Jackie, (and any other car break-in victims, be sure to check that your car registration is still in it. (And insurance card too, I suppose).

WSB has reported incidents in the past, where the registration was taken, and IIRC in some cases, the only thing taken.

Sounds odd, but perhaps the thieves use it as a way to commit I.D. theft, and/or as a way to obtain the cars VIN, and other info, for other nefarious purposes.

Mike

fiz February 7, 2011 (2:03 pm)

Maybe stealing Saturns for parts?

ws guy February 7, 2011 (2:14 pm)

I hate thieves

Megan February 7, 2011 (2:56 pm)

I hate theives. Im still looking for my Louis Vuitton Wallet & Purse. Could have been toss into a bush 1/30. Stolen from my car (the ONE time i have ever left it in there)
Purse was practically brand new. Wallet was a year old.

Would love have them back. please let me know if you see them. Thanks

Alki Resident February 7, 2011 (3:29 pm)

Parents out there with teens,fyi-My daughter was recently in an accident and decided before the car got towed off to clean out her glove box with personal papers, etc.She had her TITLE in there.Make sure titles stay in the house always.Only registration paper needs be in glove box,she was completely unaware of this practice.Oops.

Paul February 7, 2011 (7:52 pm)

this is truly an epidemic and needs some more attention from LE. In fact,how about instead of prostitution stings they set up bait cars

Megan February 8, 2011 (7:20 am)

Paul- I LIKE that idea.

Wondering February 8, 2011 (9:22 am)

Bait cars are a practice in some states they have hidden cameras and they can only be drive a very short distance before the car shuts off. so while the thief is trying to figure out what happened the police are there to arrest them. Pretty cool. Here is one site but there are many on youtube.
http://www.baitcar.com/