West Seattle Crime Watch: Late-night search for an intruder

This happened near WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli‘s neighborhood on the east side of The Junction late Tuesday night, so he checked out the sizable police response after a resident in the 4500 block of 41st SW (map) reported an intruder at a neighbor’s home – a man who first pounded on the door, then kicked it in when no one answered, and shouted while going through the house. He fled before police arrived; they searched with a K-9 unit but didn’t find him, and weren’t certain whether anything had been stolen.

Eric November 11, 2009 (10:18 am)

Let me see if I get this right; an intruder brakes into a house, nothing was stolen, and the police search the area with a k-9 unit! And all I got was a late arrival and please tow your car of the street when to criminals totaled my car and ran away through the alley, no further investigation was performed even though there was alcohol inside their car.
Not cool!

bluebird November 11, 2009 (10:51 am)

Middle of the night, crazed man breaking into a home shouting, is an immediate danger to the populace. A damaged car, unfortunately, is all too common an occurrence. Besides taking a report, not a lot that can be done. There aren’t resources to go after these type of events. You have to prioritize with peoples lives coming first.

j November 11, 2009 (11:48 am)

And if there is a chance that they can catch someone in the act of breaking and entering, you bet there will be a ton of cops coming. This happened to us several years back when we lived in the 42nd/Oregon area. Our house was being broken into at night and we called the cops when they were still breaking in. Great police presence (including K9) and they caught the b-stards! Scariest night of my life, but I am forever grateful to SPD for being there.

christopherboffoli November 11, 2009 (1:04 pm)

Eric: Not to minimize your situation (which sounds horrible) but I have to agree with bluebird. The 911 call went out as a burglary in-progress as the neighbors witnessed the guy kick in the door and heard someone tearing up the place. I’m glad that the police were able to respond quickly and in force for this one.
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I also have to give credit to the Seattle Fire Department too who came out and sufficiently shored-up my neighbor’s front door so that the house could be secured until he got home. Actually, in the course of covering stories for the WSB I see the SFD go the extra mile with details like that all the time. But we’re usually so occupied reporting the more dramatic stuff like firefighting and life-saving that the small gestures don’t get mentioned. Those men and women really are the best.

Marty Sweetman November 11, 2009 (1:24 pm)

This is actually my place. I was out with a friend downtown last night and when I got home I was met by two officers from the SW Precient.

A man went through my apartment, he did not take anything but did throw my laptop against the far wall in my living room, destroying it. Nothing was stolen, even though I had a number of things in plain sight that could have been.

The officers were extremely helpful and sympathetic while they were there. Thanks as well to the SFD for shorring up my door, it was able to at least lock again.

It’s good to have neighbors too who have an idea when something is not right. Watch out for each other, otherwise this could have been much worse.

MAV November 11, 2009 (1:30 pm)

My house was broken in last week on Genesee btwn 44th and 45th. I sure hope they catch this person soon! I have been very scared since this happened. The night before the breakin a man was tapping on my windows and door and then took off when he realized I was home. Obviously, he came back the next day.

WSB November 11, 2009 (1:33 pm)

Marty, sorry to hear about what happened … thank you for sharing more on the story. Police say that AGAIN and AGAIN about neighbors … they are a vital part of crimefighting and prevention – TR

christopherboffoli November 11, 2009 (2:28 pm)

Marty: Without compromising your privacy too much, are you saying this event was totally random? How bizarre. In a way it sounds like it was good that you ween’t home. Who knows what this maniac might have done.

the fresh prince November 11, 2009 (4:27 pm)

just last friday, my neighbor’s back door was kicked in on 44th near Charlestown. he/she/they took a laptop, a guitar, and small electronics, but otherwise no damage to the house. this was in the middle of the day friday, not at night.
these events might be related?

WTF November 11, 2009 (10:04 pm)

Come here little boy. Come on. Bang on my door. Kick it in. And, meet my pink & rhinestoned handle Smith & Wesson.

SarahScoot November 11, 2009 (11:05 pm)

the fresh prince: it doesn’t sound related to me. In one incident a home was broken into and items stolen with no damage other than the broken door. In this one, it sounds like all the person wanted to do was damage things. That, and the fact that the guy was shouting while going through the house, makes this sound like a very different type of crime.
I’m wondering the same thing as christopher: this doesn’t sound random. I hope this person is apprehended, because this sounds incredibly scary.

looking for logic November 14, 2009 (2:55 pm)

Where do the resources for the police go if not into investigating these crimes? How many murders are they responding to? I forward these reports to my insurance agent, they have lobbyists.

Property values go down with increased crime and then there is a domino effect that results in calculating property taxes. Maybe our civil servants need a basic math lesson. If you want to get paid do your job.

Kim Baruffi November 18, 2009 (9:33 am)

I’m curious-do any of you that have been broken into have a dog at home? I am also on 41st Ave, and am thankful that my big black lab has a very mean bark to anyone coming near my front door. Dogs are a very good deterrent!

Jodie November 27, 2009 (1:07 pm)

Today a man knocked on my door claiming he was doing construction in the area and was talking to homeowners – when I asked where he was working he said South Seattle – he gave me a card D.C. Construction – it looks bogus – anyone else have this guy knock on their door. I live on 44th/Genesee

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