West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowlers not deterred by rain

That’s apparent from the deluge of car break-in reports we’ve received today – one from north West Seattle, two from south – and one WSB’er says even the police were surprised by what was taken – read on:

First, from TD in Admiral:

Just wanted to let you know that our car was broken into sometime overnight. The little sh*ts took the seats! Unbelievable. Even the police officer was surprised at that. A google search says the punks steal them to put them into cars that they jack up to race. Our car, evidently, is the prime car for this. They ripped the convertible top to open the door. They also popped the trunk – but there wasn’t anything in it of interest to them.

We’re over on 41st Avenue SW, 1/2 a block south of the High School [vicinity map].

This is the fourth (that we know of) time to get hit. Our truck has been stolen (and found down under the Viaduct) and later, broken into TWICE. Our other, 17 year old car has been broken TWICE, and had the stereo stolen on one of those occasions.

Our neighbor’s car was broken into a few weeks ago.

It’s really out of control.

Then we have two reports from Gatewood – first from Shelley:

Wanted to let people know. Last night our car was prowled in our driveway. We live in Gatewood on Thistle between 37th & 39th [map]. They rifled through everything, glove compartment, center console, back pockets of seats. They left everything strewn about.

But they didn’t steal anything because, aside from massive amounts of kids books and toys, there wasn’t anything to take. There was change in the cup holders but they didn’t seem to want that. We didn’t have an updated stereo or GPS or laptop in there. Nothing of value.

However, it is creepy to us that they skulked up our driveway undetected by our dog. Typically, we were so preoccupied with throwing our daughter’s birthday party today we didn’t lock the door of the car. It’s usually part of my nightly ritual but it was forgotten lastnight. And that seemed to be the one time they struck – although who knows if they have tried before. The driveway comes right up along our home and you do have to be brazen to get up it so it was still a violation having this person this far up on our property. We won’t report it to police because we didn’t lock our doors. I am next going to notify everyone on our blockwatch list to keep an eye out for this creep so don’t bother coming back. Lesson learned, lock your doors!

And apparently Shelley was not alone. A short note from Robin:

We’re slowly discovering that multiple cars were rifled through last night between 35th and at least 41st on Thistle street. North side of street.

One more car-prowl note from Matt, received earlier this week but not previously published:

I live near Delridge and Juneau [map].

At 6:55pm, I noticed thru my closed front window blinds, a white 2006-ish Taurus sedan pulled into the end of my driveway, stayed for a few minutes and then slowly drove away. They didn’t seem lost. No interior lights on or cell phones being used. I could see at least one driver and a passenger. Could not confirm gender or race or plate number. Passenger had the window open.

10 minutes later they returned. I went outside and told them to get out of here and move along. They slowly left and I opened my blinds to get a better look at them if they were to return. And they did another 10 minutes later. Pulling all the way up my driveway and staring at me. I let them watch me call 911 and they slowly left again. For good.

I requested that Police patrol the neighborhood and then come talk to me. They showed up 45 minutes after I called and then began to patrol. 7pm is when the police change their shift. And since no crime was committed, I got de-prioritized.

Reminder: West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets this week, Tuesday (10/20) at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (off Webster west of Delridge). This is the PERFECT place to bring crime concerns/questions – in addition to the group’s volunteer leadership and members, precinct leadership and Community Police Team officers are always there in attendance, and often it’s YOUR questions that bring out new information (including questions about police-response time, etc.). See you there.

mama o'four October 17, 2009 (1:55 pm)

This is terrible. My husband drives a convertible (Honda S2000) and he knows the seats are hot items in the black market. He ordered some special bolts and installed them pretty easily. He keeps his car in the garage.
I have been very lucky with my minivan. I barely ever lock it (I forget all the time) and in a few occassions I have left the sliding door wide open (once my neighbor saw it and called me to let me know, the other time she just closed it). I will (or at least try to) be more careful from now on.
I also understand there have been a lot of home break-ins. Time for me to make it a habit to lock my doors every night.

enginerd October 17, 2009 (2:59 pm)

I will add that our neighbor’s car was stolen from their driveway last night. We live near 41st and Dawson. They are not too sure how the thieves managed to get off with it, as it is a newer Acura and supposedly can only be started with a factory key. The crime spree in West Seattle is disheartening to say the least.

Jeanette October 17, 2009 (3:21 pm)

“We won’t report it to police because we didn’t lock our doors.”

Shelley, this still needs to be reported to police. People trespassing on your property, rifling through your car is a crime, regardless of whether you locked your doors or not. Additionally, police need an accurate record of how often and where cars are being targeted to adequately address the problem. Please make a report!

Leroniusmonkfish October 17, 2009 (4:34 pm)

If only we could all have anti-theft systems like James Bond…I really liked the exploding Lotus Turbo Esprit from “The Spy Who Loved Me”…that would really show those lil punk-ass thieves!

hotrod325 October 17, 2009 (11:44 pm)

Motion lights are great. I feel much better after our front door was kicked in and they stole our huge HD tv. Brinks made it so they only had time to grab that. Cord ripped out of the TV and still stuck under the damaged door when we returned home to meet the police already there (thanks Brinks).
You have to lock stuff up. Bolt it down or hide it.
Or just make it to where a thief will just want to try something else. I installed a dummy alarm light I bought on eBay. Comes on w/ key off. I’d walk on wouldn’t you ?
I hate thieves. Buy a gun too- you never know if you have to protect your family. Although I am for PEACE. Neighbors door was kicked in just the other day in the middle of the day!
Things are getting worse folks. Were getting a wrought iron fence installed for thieves and to keep our little kids out of the street.
Not to be paranoid. Just be smart is all.

K October 18, 2009 (12:31 am)

Our bedroom has a door and window that open up to our driveway. One night, almost 2 years ago, I happened to be up with our newborn and heard someone walk up the driveway and check to see if my husband’s truck doors were locked. They were.

I think sometimes these people are just roaming the neighborhood trying every door until one opens.

todd October 18, 2009 (10:08 am)

I had my car broke into in the findlay area around 44th a few years back and I work hotel maintenance so I see it everyday! I am disgusted with these theives and I would love to catch one in the act. Send these punks back to white center in an ambulance.

laurie October 18, 2009 (11:45 am)

More low income housing in your community equals more crime – except senior housing. My thoughts would be vote no on the housing levy

hotrod325 October 18, 2009 (4:10 pm)

Well they need there crack cocaine !!!
Yeah I’d sure like to catch a punk in the act.
We need to send a message to the thieves- Were done and if we catch you- your going DOWN!!
Do VOTE NO on anymore low income housing.

Robin October 18, 2009 (8:51 pm)

Shelley: I forgot to report that both our cars were broken into and both were locked. I am very vigilant about this. No windows were broken and there was no sign of forced entry-the thieves have some kind of device that allows them to easily enter locked cars. I doubt you forgot to lock your door! That’s what our neighbor, who was broken into as well, thought. We reported our car break-ins to the police.

EAO October 18, 2009 (10:52 pm)

I’d still report the car break-in even if the doors were un-locked. The police need this information for tracking.

Lola October 19, 2009 (3:23 pm)

Two years ago my son’s car a Honda S2000 had the seats stolen out of it right in our driveway. He also had the top slashed on it twice. He finally got rid of it since it was such a hot commodity for the Theives.

Lola October 19, 2009 (3:29 pm)

My neighbor also told me that her house was broken into back in September during the day on a Saturday when it seems like everybody is home. She even had an Alarm by a company that I will not mention and all they did was call the house got the answering machine and left a message (the thief could hear it) that they were not sending the police. It is hard when it now seems like these are everyday occurances.

Tami October 21, 2009 (2:37 pm)

I was out of town and missed this report until now. I want to add that 39th Ave SW between Morgan and Graham was hit on Friday 10/16 as well: a home break-in during the day and 2 car break-ins during the stormy night. We’ve had break-ins during storms before – the noise of the rain and wind makes good cover and not very many people are out and about. One neighbor reported seeing a suspicious looking tall blond man in the alley earlier. It is unnerving to realize that they opened a closed gate to access one of the vehicles parked off the alley. Is there any defense against the “lock opening device” mentioned above? Thankfully, we had nothing of value in our vehicle, but it was a pain to clean up the mess they left behind.

Sorry, comment time is over.