Thanks for the tips and photo. That’s the aftermath of yet another crash-and-grab burglary (or attempt) at Global Smoke and Vape (35th/Roxbury), hit repeatedly in recent months. According to police audio, it happened just before 3:30 am; the 911 caller reported seeing two people get out of the vehicle that was used, and into a second one to get away. The vehicle left behind was radioed in as a 2015 Kia Optima that officers believed to have been an “unreported stolen” registered to someone in Auburn. We don’t know if burglars made it into the store to take anything or not. P.S. The Twitter/X call log shows police were also called to the strip mall around the same time Thursday for a suspected burglary, but we don’t have information on how that turned out.

10:23 PM FRIDAY: Reported by Kellie via email:

Stolen 1988 Chevrolet white 1/2-ton van – not running, so it was pulled away by someone. It is covered in vinyl stickers – one says National Green Log Society with a picture of a green log and on the back doors in 10-inch purple lettering it says “hang up and drive.” Stolen from Arbor Heights area this morning.

We’re still awaiting the license plate and police report numbers, plus we’ve asked if a photo is available, but the description sounded vivid enough that you’d probably recognize this if you see it, so we’re publishing this for starters. ADDED: Plate is S019694. … SECOND ADDITION: Police report # is 24-044805.

2:13 PM SATURDAY: As noted in comments, found in Fauntleroy. Owners are aware and handling.

The video and report are from Peter, who says this happened on 23rd SW at midday Tuesday:

He stole the package within a few minutes of delivery around 12:15. (His car looked) like a red Subaru outback with gray plastic trim.

We asked what the item left behind turned out to be; Peter said it “looked like a cover from a car headrest” and seemed new.

Police are searching the area around Admiral Safeway and Hiawatha after a shoplift-turned-robbery at the store. According to the dispatch, a man brandished a 2 1/2-inch folding knife at store staff while making off with an 18 pack of Modelo beer. He was last seen headed south toward Hiawatha. He’s described as Black, 19 to 20 years old, 5’6″, medium build, blue sweatshirt, tan pants. A K-9 team is joining the search.

Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with two business burglaries:

CRASH-AND-GRAB BURGLARY: Just after 3 am, police responding to what was called in as a crash found out it was actually a crash-and-grab burglary, at the Morgan Junction Domino’s. No major damage, though. The safe was taken, according to staff. (Added: According to dispatch audio, the burglar[s] were in a white SUV.)

ANOTHER PIZZA BURGLARY: We don’t know what time this happened, but police were called to A Pizza Mart at 35th and Roxbury in the 8 am hour today because of the damaged door. This too turned out to be a burglary. (Thanks for the tip on this one.)

FOUND SAFE: Whether this is the Domino’s safe, we don’t know, but a reader emailed this photo and report about a dumped safe seen this afternoon south of The Junction:

They saw it “in the alley between California and 42nd, south of Edmunds.”

CAR PROWLER INTERRUPTED: Peter reported this just before 5 am – he “scared off a car prowler in a white truck in North Admiral/Schmitz Park area (55th and Charlestown). I could see them going down the street with their lights off stopping at cars and checking handles. Then they stopped at a neighbor’s truck and were checking it out before I came out and scared them off.”

Sent by a reader who signed “distressed resident of West Seattle”:

My partner’s car window was parked on Fauntleroy Way in front of the Maris Apartments last night. We woke up this morning to find the back right window smashed and a few dog walkers mentioned they had seen 3-4 other car windows smashed along the way as they were passing us.

Nothing is believed to have been stolen, which angers us even more because it feels whoever is responsible for this did this just because. We also found an interesting looking tool that may have been used to cause the break as it was sitting in the middle of the glass on the ground. It happened sometime between 10 pm and 10 am. We have filed a police report and inquired in our apartment building for potential footage.

ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: The photo and report are from TT via email:

My 2000 Chevy Astro van was stolen between 2/8 after 7 pm and 2/9 9 am. It was parked at the Lighthouse townhomes on Delridge. She is bright pink, fuzzy pink dice hanging (if still there), pink cowboy hat on dash (again, if still there). Her name is Pinky. PLEASE HELP ME FIND HER. SPD incident #24-037546.

Call 911 if you see TT’s van.

MONDAY UPDATE: The owner has commented below that her van has been found.

9:38 PM: Police checking out multiple reports of suspected gunfire have just told dispatchers they’ve confirmed it – finding an SUV that was hit. It’s reported to be on 31st SW near SW Morgan. No report of any injuries.

9:51 PM: Officers also have reported finding “casings east of the intersection.”

That’s the spot outside the West Seattle Junction Post Office where thieves stole the drive-up/ride-up/walk-up mailbox in late November. Still no replacement. USPS regional spokesperson Kim Frum told us in November that it would be replaced, but there was no timeline. We just checked in with her again – same thing: “The good news is the box is supposed to be replaced. Unfortunately, there is still no timeframe for when this will happen. We appreciate our customers’ understanding and patience. And hope to have the box replaced soon.” The mailbox that was stolen had been installed seven months earlier … described as a more-secure box than its larger predecessor. As for past replacement times … our archives note two occasions where the Westwood Village box was gone for almost four months (as well as another incident in which it was replaced within a week).

12:33 AM: Police are at Shree’s Truck Stop in southeast West Seattle (7801 Detroit SW) investigating an armed robbery. The holdup happened less than half an hour ago. According to exchanges between officers and dispatch, five people held up the store; the initial description of all five was: Black, male, 17-18 years old, masks, and dark clothing, at least one with a gun. Their getaway vehicle was described as a white Nissan Sentra that left heading north. SFD was called to provide medical attention for the clerk.

12:53 AM: Officers just updated dispatch, reporting that security video shows the getaway vehicle was actually a “white Kia, no plates.”

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

INTERSECTION ATTACK: Emailed by a reader:

I was driving to an appointment in the Junction today. I stopped at the stop sign on Genesee at California. I made eye contact with a pedestrian. He approached my driver’s side window, made eye contact, and punched it quite hard. Then he moved in front of my car and lingered there. He turned to the sidewalk and finished crossing, but then came back to my car and punched the passenger’s side window hard enough to crack it. The man was white, about 60, tall, and dressed in a leather jacket with a lot of jewelry. He had sagging black jeans, and had partially covered his face. He had grey hair pulled back into a ponytail and wore a red checkered hat.

After the incident, I drove to safety, called 911, and snapped some photos of him. He walked north up California, past Dakota Place and onward. When I arrived at my appointment, I relayed the story to the women at the front desk. They said that he is known to them, and they have previously had reason to lock the door when he is in the area. Stay safe, everyone!

VOLVO WAGON STOLEN: Texted by a reader – the second theft report we’ve received this week involving an older Volvo:

Our family’s beloved ‘92 black Volvo wagon was stolen from the parking lot at Lincoln Park within the last couple of hours and we’re already heartbroken. It’s not worth a lot, but it has a lot that’s been put into it and it is our dogs’ favorite place to be – 4 dogs and a human have now grown up in it. We’d be so grateful if you would keep an eye out for this car that is only precious to us and please report it stolen if you see it anywhere … License plate is 256 RXR. I’m so angry and sad.

P.S. we have a yellow moose emblem on the front panel that is very distinctive.

Added: SPD report # is 24-036851.

MIATA CONVERTIBLE STOLEN: This photo and report are from Michael:

My beloved 1999 Mazda Miata was stolen from the intersection of 35th Ave SW and Willow St on Monday 2/5 at approx 5:45 am. On Tues 2/6 a very kind neighbor saw the car at approx 1:45 pm at the 7/11 on 35th Ave SW and Avalon by the bridge. He texted me pictures of the driver that match the grainy footage of it being stolen at dark.

My license plate is AHH7537 but it’s been removed. My police case number is 24-33954. Noteworthy features of the car are: a clear coat failure in the paint on the hood, a spare donut on the right rear wheel, and a small black antenna.

The antenna is shown in the photo; another photo the neighbor sent Michael shows the paint problem on the hood, and other recognizable dents/dings. Call 911 if you see it.

Police are investigating gunfire just north of Westcrest Park. After a 911 call from a home near 5th SW and SW Cloverdale, officers went to the area and have told dispatch they’ve found 25 shell casings at an intersection in the area. No injuries or property damage reported so far. The original caller was reported to have said a “silver vehicle” might have been involved.

Sent by Mike, with the victim’s permission:

My buddy Kevin, who is a longtime employee at Easy Street Records and is responsible for creating every wonderful window display we’ve had in The Junction over the last few decades, had his vehicle stolen yesterday between 1 pm and 9:30 pm in the parking lot attached to Wells Fargo on Alaska and 44th Ave. Kevin is the best and I’m hoping our watchful community will keep an eye out for my friend’s car. If spotted, please call the store at 206-938-EASY (3279).

The car has a collector plate, 5813E.

Via email, another report of a stolen vehicle to watch for:

My sister’s car was stolen this weekend, off the street just outside our alleyway – Genesee between 44th Ave SW and 45th Ave SW. It was taken sometime between Friday 02/02 at 6:00 pm and Sunday 02/04 at 7:00 pm. It’s a black 2013 Hyundai Elantra with WA plates CFU2256. In terms of unique identifiers, the car has a pink rear license plate frame and an expired Texas registration sticker in the driver’s-side front windshield. The SPD incident # is 24-33676; please contact them with any information.

Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN PICKUP: Jessica emailed this morning, hoping you can be on the lookout for her pickup:

My truck was stolen from outside my house in the Admiral District. 1989 GMC Sierra 2500, light brown with orange accents. Collector’s plate 6367F. Police report number: 24-33805

Meantime, weekend summaries made available by SPD today include these two West Seattle incidents we hadn’t previously heard about:

ALKI GUNFIRE: SPD says officers were flagged down near 62nd/Alki just after 1 am Saturday by someone reporting this incident, described as: “Four victims were involved in a verbal altercation with a male in a black SUV. Suspect in the SUV fired a single shot and then fled southbound. Evidence of the shooting was recovered.”

ASSAULTED BY INTRUDER: According to the SPD summary, this happened just before 1:30 am Sunday. The original call to the 7500 block of 21st SW was for a burglary; officers say they found someone “that the reporting party wanted removed.” That person was not arrested – until, SPD says, they assaulted an officer, resulting in a call to SFD for medical assistance, after which, the summary continues, “the suspect then assaulted a Medic, an AMR crewmember, and another officer.” We’re following up. ADDED: SFD tells us, “Medics were called in to assist AMR with a patient. One SFD medic and an SPD officer were treated for assault.” The suspect, however, was the only one who had to be taken to the hospital, a man in his late 20s.

Reported tonight by Jenny via email – this van was taken overnight from an apartment parking lot off Fauntleroy Way north of Fairmount Park:

It’s a white Chevrolet van, with ladders on top when taken; plates BFB7562, SPD report number 24-32912. Call 911 if you see it.

A reader reports their home was broken into between 3:30 and 4:20 pm Thursday, February 1. It happened in the 2400 block of Myrtle, a block off Delridge. The victim explains, “Our neighbor’s security camera caught this footage of 3 men walking out of our driveway (his footage is about 28 minutes behind the actual time) … The gray/silver minivan was waiting for the 3 men, all dressed exactly the same.” They appear in the distance in the upper left of the video around :16 in:

The minivan then headed west on Myrtle toward Delridge. The victim adds, “They used a crowbar to open the front door and stole cash and jewelry, mostly family items not replaceable. I am usually home during this time and ran a random errand, so it seems like they were really watching as the window was very small, or they had a stroke of great luck with timing!” The SPD report number is 24-30292.

Police are at Global Smoke and Vape (35th/Roxbury) right now, after the store was robbed for the second time in less than 24 hours. So far tonight police are saying they don’t have much to go on – officers have told dispatch that the store staff has only described the robbers as “three males wearing masks,” at least one with a gun. The robbers who hit the store around 7:30 last night were described as three white men around 20 years old, 5’4″, one in a white jacket, two in dark jacket, all in masks, one with a gun. No injuries reported in either holdup. In addition to other robberies at the store, it was hit by crash-and-grab burglars five times in less than a month last fall.

(Reader photo from 2023, aftermath of what sender called a ‘rampage’ of vandalism north of The Junction)

The city’s graffiti law is enforceable again, according to this announcement this afternoon from City Attorney Ann Davison‘s office:

Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison today announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling that halted the City of Seattle’s ability to enforce its misdemeanor graffiti ordinance.

City Attorney Davison appealed the lower court ruling on July 3, 2023 and made oral arguments to the Court on Jan. 9, 2024. The Court of Appeals made its ruling this morning.

“The people of Seattle won an important victory today when the Ninth Circuit upheld our City’s right to enforce our laws against graffiti property destruction,” said City Attorney Davison. “Graffiti is a massive problem for our City, costing taxpayers, businesses, and residents millions of dollars while creating widespread visual blight. We must have as many tools as possible to protect neighbors and residents impacted by graffiti.”

In June 2023, the U.S. District enjoined the City from enforcing its graffiti ordinance, Seattle Municipal Code 12A.08.020(A)(2).

We reported on that ruling here.