West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Roaming’ burglar; car theft; more

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight, from the WSB inbox, including a break-in attempt late today whose victims say police told them about a “roaming” burglar, plus another burglary and a car theft – read on (**added Wed. morning, an additional burglary report):

From Leah tonight, via Facebook:

… we had an attempted burglary at our house today, between 4:45 and 5:15 p.m. (4700 block of) 50th Ave SW (due West of the Junction). The burglars pulled off two window screens, tried the windows (locked), then managed to pry open our south (utility) door and set off our house alarm. Due to a laundry basket conveniently in the way which impeded their progress, they appear to have left then, leaving the door ajar about 6″. We were notified by Brinks of the break-in.

We called the police when we got home, they came out and took fingerprints. Our south door does have a Brinks sticker but apparently that didn’t matter to them. The police let us know that 2 residences were broken into due south of the Junction yesterday and there appears to be a burglar roaming and targeting our neighborhood (Genesee/Seaview).

So, keep your doors/windows locked as needed and use your alarm if you have one.

Another burglary report, also involving screen removal:

There was a burglary in our neighborhood on the 6000 block of 36th Ave. SW. It
occurred sometime after midnight on the 26th. SPD says they may have done it during the daylight hours if no one answers the door. They appeared to have removed many screens around the home prior to just breaking out a window right by the front door. No one was home at the time. SPD said they like to take small items of value that can be carried away in a daypack. The mailman noticed the damage and reported it.

And tonight, Rob reported this car theft from early today:

Our green 1996 Subaru Legacy was taken from right in front of our home during the early morning hours of Tuesday the 30th. The license plate number is 308-TPG and is missing the passenger side mirror. We live in the Gatewood area off of Thistle Ave SW. My wife and I had just celebrated our 1st anniversary together and we awoke to find our car taken by scumbags. Just wanted to add our misfortune to the long list of crime happening in the West Seattle we love.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Another burglary report just in:

My neighbor’s home was burglarized on Monday afternoon. (between noon and 2pm) in the 5000 block of Erskine Way SW. The intruder tried to pry open a couple of rear windows, then kicked in the back door, dug around the house a bit, and stole jewelry and a laptop computer. Police were called for a report and fingerprints taken.

10 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: 'Roaming' burglar; car theft; more"

  • Thi August 30, 2011 (11:44 pm)

    We heard a large bang on our garage door about an hour ago (10:30pm) sounding like someone was trying to force their way in (5600) block of 48th Ave SW but looked around and didn’t see anything. Please keep a look out in the area.

  • Alan August 31, 2011 (6:07 am)

    I was out walking my dog this morning at 5am and noticed two thin-set, young men (late teens early twenties) walking the streets at the corner of 48th Ave SW and Oregon Street. From a distance, these guys appeared to be Caucasian. When they saw my flashlight, they split up and headed in different directions. About thirty minutes later, as I was driving to work, I saw a green/darker colored, four-door Honda civic, with a dent in the front right quarter-panel pick up these two guys at the corner of Glenn Way and Oregon Street. What was interesting about the pick-up is that the driver stopped the car on Glenn Way in such a manner that he partially blocked the southbound lane (heading towards Junction/farmer’s market). Instead I proceeding on my way, I paused and tried to get a better look at the both the car and the individuals getting into the car. One of the guys noticed my stare and waved me by as if to let me know that I could just drive around the car. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the license plate number and it was too dark to provide a good description of the individuals. My guess is that we have active car prowlers in the neighborhood, so if you happen to be the victim of a car prowl in the Junction area, these may be your guys.

  • Dirk August 31, 2011 (7:19 am)

    Are these crime rates abnormal for West Seattle, or are things pretty par for the course right now? (debating paying to monitor the house alarm)

  • pops August 31, 2011 (12:41 pm)

    So… I had my car broken into as well. I thought nothing of it until I saw the lists of crimes. I figure I might as well add where my violation occurred. I did not report it because I was donating the car that very weekend. I sort of laughed about it. They ripped apart the dash and trashed the front seat. They broke the glove box. THERE WAS NOTHING TO STEAL! by taking the face plate off the stereo all they ended up with was the faceplate… these crooks are so stupid and immature.

    I hope we can one day live in a world were people are not forced to steal what they cannot provide for themselves in a justifiable manner.

    IF IT IS NOT YOURS DO NOT TOUCH IT.

    Great words to live by.

    4200 Block of Beach Drive

  • Cav19d September 1, 2011 (5:54 pm)

    I am so tired of all the crime in WSEA lately. I live near the junction and if these guys try to break into my house it will be the last. Hopefully the police catch these pieces of trash.

  • Kelli September 2, 2011 (10:44 am)

    Are son’s 1996 dark green Acura Intergra was stolen Monday night August29th from our home. It was found the next morning off of Oregon Street and California Ave behind Pagliacci Pizza in the alley. If anyone seen anything please respond. The car was totally stripped including wheels and tires and engine parts.

  • thegodfather September 2, 2011 (8:58 pm)

    We recently had a wallet and cell stolen out of one of our vehicles parked on the street. Yes, I know, shouldn’t leave that stuff in the car. Police actually arrested the punk who was caught with our credit cards. The police came ringing at our door when we were sleeping to verify the charges of possession of stolen property, and jail this guy. The officer said it was “a gang banger in a fight” and had a string of offenses already. We knew the guy had made purchases using the stolen cards at the Avalon/35th 7/11 and at various Jack in the Boxes! Also, our neighbor had a break-in during the day – daughter was home alone when heard loud knocking at the door, she ignored it, then someone went around to the back of the house and came in through the open kitchen window -they ran off when she made them aware of her presence and called 911. Our other neighbor had their vehicle stolen out of their driveway off the alley this summer also. We live in the area of 38th near Charlestown water tower. We are going to be giving a security company monthly allowance for an alarm system due to this rash of criminal activity in the neighborhood. It makes me so sad.

  • Carol S. September 7, 2011 (2:42 pm)

    I live on 56th Ave SW near Charlestown and at 2:30 pm 9/7/11 a red haired, crew-cut young man with a somewhat prognathous jaw, one stud earring, wearing grey T-shirt and tan shorts rang the doorbell and introduced himself as a “Timber Windows” rep of a small family unadvertised business that will be sending people out to look around the neighborhood tomorrow and he wanted to warn me to “not be alarmed” and then began asking how long I’d lived in the house. Told him we were not interested in his services. Was watching him as he left and could see him mouthing an obscenity as he went down the street to next house and examining all the vehicles in our driveway. Seems a very odd way to look for business and it may be more likely a way to seeing who is at home at what hours and to “case houses” for theft. He gave me a coupon for $20 off then when I said I was not interested he snatched the coupon back. The coupon had a Business License # on it so maybe it is a legitimate business but thought I might as well report it given the rash of thefts I’m reading about on here.

  • Carol Shih September 7, 2011 (2:51 pm)

    TIMBER WINDOWS, INC.
    UBI Number 600291240
    Category REG
    Profit/Nonprofit Profit
    Active/Inactive Inactive
    State of Incorporation WA
    WA Filing Date 10/06/1977
    Expiration Date 10/31/1998
    Inactive Date 01/25/1999
    Registered Agent Information
    Agent Name GARY J FOSMO
    Address 7929 44TH AVE W #G
    City MUKILTEO
    State WA
    ZIP 98275

  • ray September 16, 2011 (9:52 pm)

    I live on Fauntleroy across from Lincoln park. Have neighbors who rake the dirt and rebuild there rockery at 3am. High flow of the skinniest and nastiest people you ever saw. They have no running water and or sewer and urinate and defecate outside all the time. I saw a man (a TWEAKER which sometimes there will be 10 different people coming over at all hrs of the day) Unloading a bob stroller and dropping it off to a residence of mid 40 tweakers who one owns the property and the rest seem to squat her for a while then move on. I love standing on my back porch smelling piss and watching the most disturbing people do the most disgusting deeds. My wife has to wear earplugs to sleep. Cops cant and wont do F@@k about a known drug and criminal element. Ready to leave west seattle!

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