West Seattle Crime Watch: “We … learned the hard way”

If you think you can leave something of value in your car, maybe because it’s someplace so visible thieves wouldn’t dare try anything, consider the lesson AJ and fiancé just learned. AJ, who’s in the 7500 block of 34th SW (map), shared this note sent to neighbors late last night.

Just wanted to alert you that my fiancé’s car was broken into tonight. We aren’t sure when the exact incident happened but we estimate somewhere around 10- 11pm. His car was parked right in front of our house and the burglars broke in from the street side (his passenger side of the car). They rummaged through his glove compartment before grabbing his book bag (that had his Mac book in it.) Worst part was, we were sitting right in our living room when this happened. Please keep an eye out for your valuables, as we unfortunately learned the hard way.

k January 8, 2010 (8:54 am)

same lesson we all keep learning with these break ins, DON’T leave anything of value in your car. even in front of your house, they can get in and out in no time. it’s easy to quietly break a window, unfortunately. so sorry to hear about this and thanks for the report.

OP January 8, 2010 (9:12 am)

If you take away the incentive (ex: iPods, CPUs, even change) from your vehicle, you reduce the chance some asshat breaks into your car. Why is this so hard to understand, and why does it need repeating ad nauseum?

Lindsey January 8, 2010 (10:41 am)

Hey guys, it sounds like they are beating themselves up enough.

mark January 8, 2010 (10:49 am)

Speaking from experience, it takes a smack in the face for most of us to learn our lesson. In my case, more than once!!

Shannon January 8, 2010 (11:43 am)

It was a backpack, not a computer just laying out in the open. Besides, we all know better, but everyone forgets something in their car sometime. Unfortunately it had to be a night someone was out there and willing to rob them. They were nice enough to report it so the rest of us could be reminded and aware. Lets not forget they’re the victims, no one had a right to break their window, go through their car, and rob them.

dawsonct January 8, 2010 (11:58 am)

Shoot, I would expand that to “don’t leave ANYTHING in your car.” I had some old ski boots, a VERY smelly ski helmet, and ONE ski glove stolen from my car a couple of years ago. I’m absolutely certain that the jackasses didn’t get squat for their efforts, but because they were very high end boots, fitted to my feet, I needed to spend hundreds that weren’t budgeted to replace the items. They also broke my DRIVER’S SIDE window, which was even more idiotic, since I drive a Honda, which you can get into with a screwdriver, just like the three other times they had prowled my car.
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Best to assume the idiots will break in just to see what you have.

I. Ponder January 8, 2010 (12:08 pm)

I tell my kids to take their book bags and backpacks out of the car because even if nothing of value gets stolen I don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of getting my car window replaced.

Looking for Logic January 8, 2010 (12:45 pm)

I noticed a few years ago theft was on the increase. I work downtown and most of the thieves are wacked out on something and that they are extremely desperate, they will steal anything. There is no logic to their processes, don’t leave anything in your car, keep your Ipods hidden on your person, keep everything important in your inside pockets. It is heartbreaking to have to live defensively, but it is distressing to pickup the pieces afterwards.

fred mertz January 8, 2010 (4:01 pm)

My kid has an expensive laptop, this is how I rationalize some of his lack of judgment vs possibility of it being stolen: Orbicle Undercover-a unique theft-recovery application designed from the ground up for Mac OS X.

While not foolproof at least I will be able to fantasize about asshat’s freakout upon its activation.

rob January 8, 2010 (9:04 pm)

used to live 4 blocks south of these folks. someone stole the ipod out of our car while it was parked out front and we were sitting in the living room. they got into the car from the street side. we felt it was pretty brazen because they broke into the car not knowing whether there would be an ipod in it or not. it was in the built-in ipod dock which is down inside the center console, no way to know one is there until you get in there and open the console to go looking. im sure its common knowledge that newer VWs have this and where its located, but still.
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a few months later, a week or so before halloween, someone stole a 45 lbs pumpkin off our porch, also while we were home. it was an ugly pumpkin, not carved or anything, and really heavy. can’t imagine why someone would want it. expected to find it smashed in the road or something but it was nowhere in the neighborhood, so they evidently really wanted a big pumpkin.
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anyway, it kinda freaks me out these guys are willing to be so bold as to pull this stuff right out in plain sight. makes me wonder what else they are brave enough to do (break into houses while people are home?) but, i suppose the success they are getting encourages them to keep doing it.

Anonymous January 9, 2010 (1:04 pm)

The recent surge of crime in the West Seattle community is alarming. My friend’s car was broken into a few weeks ago (from the street side as well), while they were in their house. There was NO visible valuables in the car, yet the thieves still smashed the window in search of things to take. Clearly this is something that a lot of the comments can relate to.

I also agree with Shannon. These folks were the victims. What’s the world coming to when you slap their wrists for doing the right thing by alerting their neighbors and the community. Shame on you OP.

S. Chandler January 9, 2010 (3:34 pm)

Sorry to hear about the break in. My Red Dodge Neon Sport was stolen from my apartment bldg the morning of Jan 1rst. Luckily it was recoverd on Jan 6th, my birthday of all days :), with minimal damage to the keyguard on the door handle (thanks for not breaking a window or the lock) and to the steering column. Doesn’t matter if they break in or steal the whole thing.. it a sick feeling to be violated like that.

rattboyy January 10, 2010 (10:55 pm)

i think thieves breakin to cars just to see what you have even if there isnt any visible items. its a sad time when you cant even leave a pack of gum in your car without some assmonkey breaking in to your car to steal it.

HitMe2 January 11, 2010 (4:34 pm)

My 10 year old car was broken into on 12/23, and I am on 31st near Kenyon. My car was literally three steps from the front door, with a motion light directly overhead. I leave nothing to steal inside as I have been through this drill already, but they got in via an unlocked driver’s door (on purpose, alarm key fob was dead)and rummaged through my glove box and my CD collection. They were clearly opportunists and they don’t share my taste in music, apparently. My alarm is back in business now, but I am amazed at how brazen these folks were. You can’t even see the door lock from the sidewalk – they had to come up near the front step to my house to see the door was unlocked…so keep that in mind. I am installing an outdoor camera like hunters use that will take a snapshot when there is motion in my driveway. They can be purchased for around $100 at Amazon, and they even take night infrared color pics.

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