West Seattle Crime Watch: Neighbors chase suspected prowler

Yet another case of alert neighbors either scaring off suspected criminals or catching them: This just out of the WSB inbox, from Cecilia:

My husband and I live on Beach Drive, near the corner of Beach and Andover (a couple blocks north of La Rustica) [map]. At approximately 10:30 AM on the morning of Friday 9/18/09, I received a phone call from a neighbor alerting me to a potential attempted residential burglary in our home. Several neighbors and our US Mail Deliverer/Post Man observed a white unmarked van and some kind of tan/gold colored sedan park in front of our home. A short time later, one man got out of the van, came to the front of our home, looked into the front windows, then went around the side yard and back of our home, looking into all the windows. Neighbors were able to scare him off by asking what he was doing. One neighbor and the Post Man followed him in their cars, while he was on foot. He stopped to hide in some bushes near our home and proceeded to look into some windows of a neighbor’s house, at which point he was confronted by neighbors and police were called. By the time police arrived, the man was gone, as were the two suspect vehicles. Because there was no evidence of “forced entry” in our home and no recorded license plate numbers, an actual police report could not be made. Please be aware of an adult male (approximate age unknown), about 6-6’2 in height, approximately 180 lbs in weight, wearing a Nike hat, with brown “greasy” hair in a ponytail. Please also be aware of the vehicles described above.

16 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Neighbors chase suspected prowler"

  • Henchbot September 21, 2009 (2:38 pm)

    its a good reminder: most breakins happen midmorning, its the easiest time to get in.

  • Jennifer Nicole September 21, 2009 (2:40 pm)

    I’m moving to West Seattle at the end of the month, and have to say that following this blog has made me impatient to get myself over there! The posts I read are all about great events in the area or neighbors helping each other out, as opposed to those in the blog for my current neighborhood, which focus on crimes that were successfully committed and attempts to “better the area” (i.e. drive crime out and promote community).

    It feels good to know that the kind of environment I’ve been working to provide in my current neighborhood is something I can become a part of in my neighborhood to come!

  • WSB September 21, 2009 (2:43 pm)

    Welcome in advance, JN! West Seattleites do an awesome job of helping each other in ways big and small (and I have a couple more stories in the hopper for today that are further evidence) – TR

  • bld September 21, 2009 (2:44 pm)

    Gah! That’s my neighborhood. Good job, Beach Drivians!

  • burglarbustindad September 21, 2009 (3:42 pm)

    Good Work
    Identifing and removing these thieves one at a time as a neighborhood is what it takes.
    My thief has been charged and is no stranger to the criminal justice system.
    I will keep you posted on my case.

  • Jim September 21, 2009 (4:08 pm)

    any idea on ethnicity?

    i’m assuming he’s caucasian, right? greasy-brown hair could be hispanic or caucasian…just clarifying.

  • beachdrivegirl September 21, 2009 (4:09 pm)

    Great job. I live really close to their and have to say i feel really good for the neighbors i have around. :)

  • Catherine September 21, 2009 (4:11 pm)

    Way to look out for your neighbors! It inspires me to watch my neighbors’ houses even more during the day.

  • Danielle September 21, 2009 (4:11 pm)

    Thanks for posting Cecilia!

  • Lindsey September 21, 2009 (4:19 pm)

    Yeah! Go neighbors!

  • jimmy September 21, 2009 (4:40 pm)

    Good looking out,next time there are suspicious vehicles get the license plates.

  • I. Ponder September 21, 2009 (4:50 pm)

    It’s important to write down license plate numbers. If it turns out to be of no use, you can throw them away.

  • Rhonda Porter September 21, 2009 (5:06 pm)

    It’s so important to look out for each other.

  • Sue September 21, 2009 (8:01 pm)

    It is always prudent and proper to note when the suspect is black or ever so slightly pigmented but never so when caucasian (insert a subtle hint of sarcasm here).

  • Tonya September 22, 2009 (9:19 am)

    what is the race of the perp? Did everyone miss that?
    I live on Beach Drive and would like to know.

  • robwestseattle September 23, 2009 (4:16 pm)

    Regarding the suggestion to “write down license plates”, ummm people don’t write anymore.

    But, who doesn’t have a camera phone these days? Take pictures…of the perps, cars, and plates.

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