West Seattle Crime Watch: Playground purse-snatching reported

Out of the WSB inbox, Jennifer reports a theft at the Gatewood Elementary playground around 11:30 this morning – read on for her report:

Two women and their children were having fun playing at the Gatewood Elementary playground until a young man and woman in a blue car stopped – he jumped out of the car and ran to the playground stole the woman’s purse sitting on the ground near her. He ran back to the car and the female driver speed away. Thieves were both caucasian in their late teens/early 20’s.

Car was a junky dark blue with the rear passenger window on the driver’s side covered with a black garbage bag.

This was reported to the police as victim was afraid the robber now had her address (in wallet) and keys to her house.

Tell folks playing at schools during the summer to not leave their items laying around, even if they are nearby.

A reminder to please report ALL crimes to the police, even ones you think might be too small; at the very least, they need to accurately track what’s happening, in order to allocate staffing, report statistics, and even because they just might wind up finding the property taken from you, or some other evidence. 911 if something is happening NOW – 206-625-5011 if time has passed.

3 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Playground purse-snatching reported"

  • add July 13, 2009 (8:57 pm)

    Wow, that’s pretty dang brazen. I’m glad it was reported. Sorry this happened to you!

  • sorry July 14, 2009 (10:25 pm)

    THanks for this we play there with our toddler all the time. I have resorted to wearing a simple cloth ‘backpack’ and if my bag/purse is laying around I make SURE to have my car keys in my pocket. But this is not meant to be preachy – I know that this is highly unusual for this area. Gatewood playfield is so dead most of the time. SAD.

  • Regina July 15, 2009 (10:35 pm)

    Could this be the couple that was in my neighborhood at 3:45 am? The guy looked older, and we couldn’t see the car that well in the dark but we believe his accomplice was a female with a dog.

    A taped up window could mean they had a stolen car and maybe they needed to dump it off for a new stolen car. (Low gas, new drug drop or pick-up a variety of reasons.)

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