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(50 posts)

Is your neighborhood safe?

Started 2 years ago by luckymom30
Latest reply from luckymom30

luckymom30
Member Profile

We have acouple houses on our street that the porch lights are on all the time, packages are delivered and left on the front steps and the poor mailman has no where to place the mail since the mailbox is full. Wouldn't you think this is a definite sign that no one is home??? Is your neighborhood so safe that you can leave your home for weeks?

Posted 2 years ago #
The Velvet Bulldog
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Possible that the residents were renters and moved without leaving a forwarding address? Or maybe it's another unfortunate foreclosure situation? Clearly not my neighborhood though--I've had packages AND mail swiped.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
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The house across the street from us is not a rental. Windows are all uncovered, draped open all the time, etc... It is a dead giveaway that someone is not home with the porch light shining all the time and the packages out front.

As for packages swiped, last year I had several Christmas packages delivered to the wrong address even thoug my name and address was clearly on the packages and get this the people kept those packages and handed out the items to the neighborhood children! And we never leave mail with checks inside in our mailbox and always go to the bank to pick up new checks.

Posted 2 years ago #
shihtzu
Member Profile

Not to be gruesome, but are they alive in there? I've forgotten to stop our mail before and the post office got the hint and kept it for me.

Knock on wood, we've never had anything stolen and our mail and packages would probably sit on our porch forever too.

Posted 2 years ago #
The Velvet Bulldog
Member Profile

Is it worth gathering up the mail and packages and leaving them a note saying you're keeping it for them? I suppose it's possible someone went on a trip and just straight up forgot to have the mail stopped. If nothing else, you're alleviating the mess AND removing a target for possible criminals.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Yes the neighbors are still alive, all their cars are gone. And yes we have carted in afew of the packages as have acouple other neighbors but we are all very concerned about the safety of the neighborhood since again it is so obvious no one is home. Usually at least one of the cars is parked in front. The mailman can not just leave her mail at the post office without her authorization. It would be better if they had a timer on the lights and had someone come pull the drapes. Their trash can lid was crushed and my husband and other neighbors have carted in the cans.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

luckymom30..

you and your neighbors are to be commended for stepping in and picking up your neighbor's packages for them... that alone will make your neighborhood safer.

But i would hold the indignation until you find out what has happened that caused all the occupants of the house to be away without canceling packages or mail. This sounds more like a personal tragedy to me than a planned vacation.

Does anyone in the neighborhood have contact info for these neighbors or for their family? This might be a good time to make a few inquiries...

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

The home owner is question is a young woman about 34, she lives there with her boyfriend whom we have met and seemed very nice. They had some work done on the house weeks before they basically disappeared, leaving the trash can outside by the side of the road. And no one else really knows her.

The home right next door to us the windows are left wide open, they must think because they have a large hedge out front they are protected.

Posted 2 years ago #
HMC Rich
Member Profile

We are elevating our block watch status. The WSB gave the meeting some coverage too! There have been way too many car prowls, break-ins and damage to property in our area.

We started talking to more neighbors and everyone seemed to have had something happen to them and they thought they were just isolated incidents. Not so.

There are some repeat offenders that seem to come back to the area. One was apprehended the other night. We thank the SPD.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

there is no doubt that tough economic times are a good time to watch out for one another. organizing a block watch is a good idea.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
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Just thought I'd add that the young woman who lives acorss from us isn't very happy that anyone moved her packages from the front porch and picked up her mail. So I guess we will not be doing this for her in the future since she is very unappreciative of our efforts to keep her house and our neighborhood safe from prowlers. I will also add that 1 1/2 weeks ago a white van with only "Carpet' printed on the one side drove up to her house and 4 men jumped out and walked around her house, opening the back gate and peeking in the large front window. No cars were parked out front and only her forever glowing front porch light was on. We saw this same van across the street again with 4 guys looking in her windows and checking out the backyard, they sat in the van for several minutes and then left.

This young woman is also under the belief that the parking in front of her house is for only her, when it is public parking and anyone can park there, on the west side of 35th it is private parking.

Posted 2 years ago #
BarbG
Member Profile

so is there any chance that maybe they had to leave the house quickly, like for a family emergency?

And yes, I would probably be unhappy if I came home and found all my packages gone, did you leave a note, or just take the packages?

Posted 2 years ago #
CarolPB
Member Profile

Hi Lucky Mom, Just was curiuos about the comment that the westside of 35th is private parking. I thought all streets are public parking, although I think there are some neighborhoods (Capital Hill?)that residents get some sort of sticker, tag, or something??

Posted 2 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
Member Profile

carol- me too. I was confused b.ci didn't know ws had permit parking, i had it in fremont years ago....

Posted 2 years ago #
WSB
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There is an RPZ in Fauntleroy. That's the only city RPZ in West Seattle. 35th does not run through it:
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/rpz_z3.htm

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

To answer your question we did leave a note on the front door and closed the screen door before leaving the porch. Acouple other neighbors also picked up some packages left on the porch or the front yard as the ever-glowing front porch light was a dead giveway that no one was home it burns day and night.

And to answer the parking question we live South of Roxbury where there is not parking allowed, no parking signs are posted along the strip South of Roxbury. Our parking is private also because we have a double driveway whereas the homes on the Eastside of 35th South of Roxbury not all have driveways or garages.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

I've never seen any indication of private parking on 35th south of Roxbury. A great many cars are parked illegally along this strip, up on sidewalks and planting strips.

It sounds like you did this woman a kindness, especially as you did leave a note. Next time just report it to SPD and let them determine if she's dead or alive -- or just dumb.

FYI, a small group of us will be meeting with city officials tonight re: our petition for improvements to the right of way on 35th south of Roxbury, including sidewalks on the west side of the street.

Posted 2 years ago #
velo_nut
Member Profile

I have connected with all of my neighbors, especially the SPD officer moving in next door. We are all classified as "nosy neighbors" and check in on each other all the time.

You can never be too safe... or too neighborly!

Posted 2 years ago #
CMP
Member Profile

Just curious what's wrong with leaving your porch light on all the time? I just moved into a house and leave mine on constantly since it's dark when I leave for work and dark when I come home. I don't think it's a giveaway that no one is home.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sue
Member Profile

CMP, I do the same thing this time of year with the lights.

Posted 2 years ago #
k
Member Profile

we do the same with our front porch light. i think leaving it completely dark is the giveaway. our neighbor is out of town and the house is completely dark and all drapes etc are closed. it's like a red flag that they aren't home. not wise.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Along 35th there are no parking signs posted. We live on the Eastside of 35th where we have sidewalks and only a parking strip, we are lucky to have a double driveway (all our neighbors on the Eastisde of 35th up to 104th have drieways and sidewalks) We are all opposed to sidewalks on the Westside. I was contacted by a neighbor who lives on the Westside of 35th who has been contacting on a regular basis the City of Settle DOT and particularly Stan Locke the area representative. According to Stan Locke the area of 35th South of Roxbury will not have sidewalks installed and resemble North of Roxbury as this neighbor has suggested several times. The city has no funds to install sidewalks along this strip. Stan Locke also said that this neighbor and his friend have called the City so many times he told me this guy needs to get a hobby! We have lived in this area for well over 20 years, the neighbor just 3 years and he has tried many times to change the neighborhood and have sidewalks installed. Apparently he didn't look at the street and how it was laidout before purchasing his home. Stan Locke did ask me for my opinion on how we should proceed and I told him the biggest problem of living on 35th is speeders so before long the DOT installed a crossswalk light to alert drivers of school children and to reduce their speed. We have a no parking sign right in our parking strip. I am very aware that people park on the parking strip along 35th South of Roxbury but in our area there are signs posted and people get a ticket for parking on the strip. That is why we tell everyone to park across the street to avoid getting a ticket, it is public parking on the Westside.

As for the young woman leaving her porch light on at all times, it has so far attracted the 4 guys in the van twice and we have noticed her mailbox open with mail hanging out of it and a package left on her porch was thrown open on her yard. The windows are completely uncovered. So we have all tried to be good neighbors to this young woman and she turned out to be very unappreciative of our efforts. I assume you pick up your mail and any packages on a regular basis regardless if you leave your porch light on or not.

Posted 2 years ago #
k
Member Profile

luckymom30-i am still astonished at her reaction. does she not read about all the break ins we have had? you did your best. time to move on and let her do what she will. you can only do some much for someone. you did the right thing.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Thank you k! We all thought we were helping her out and also keeping the neighborhood abit safer. Yes our area has seen afew break-ins lately.

Posted 2 years ago #
miws
Member Profile

luckymom30, please don't let this neighbor's reaction discourage you from continuing to be observant and concerned about others in your neighborhood. I would guess that her reaction would be the exception, rather than the rule.

From what you posted here, it doesn't appear that you were being intrusive in any way, just being concerned about your neighborhood, and it's other residents.

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

I am actually not in favor of sidewalks on the west side of 35th, at least not south of 102nd. There just isn't any room. However, the street is in bad shape and some improvements are badly needed. The open ditches are a hazard and attract rats, and the random parking makes the neighborhood look like a slum. It is this atmosphere of neglect that attracts crime more than any other single act. Speeding remains the biggest issue, and I have been working actively with other neighbors to resolve this issue. There are other improvements, short of sidewalks, that might address these issues.

Can someone tell me where they are reading about all these break-ins? I've checked the SPD blotter, the WS Blog, the Herald & just can't identify this crime wave that people keep talking about. I always like to know the facts.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

anonyme,

Correct! There is no room for sidewalks in the particular area of 35th, now if we could only get the other neighbor to see our point. He insist on sidewalks and he is driving the DOT department mad with all his phone calls and visits. Since you are in the neighborhood you obviously see the no parking signs posted and yes there is a problem with random parking on the westside of 35th in this area but that is because the homes on that side do not have a garage or a driveway and it is an open area for anyone to park. I really wonder who the idiot is that designed the West Seattle Arbor Heights neighborhood with the house numbers being the same but on different streets and not having any garages, driveways or anyother parking available.

As for the crime in our area I hear alot on WSB but to be very honest I hear most from my neighbors who tell me about their breakin when they are replacing their front doors or windows or changing the locks. That is why is it so good to get to know your neigbors. We have lived in this area for over 20 years and know most of the neighbors by name.

Posted 2 years ago #
CarolPB
Member Profile

huh???? Same numbers on different streets?
Isn't that normal all over? WTF?

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Thanks Mike I like to think she is the exception because I know most of our neighbors she just hasn't been very friendly since she moved in 5 years ago. We all were just trying to help her out and again keep the neighborhood safe.

I have lived in many different areas of Seattle and other cities here in Washington State and I have never come across the addres problem like her in Arbor Heights.

Posted 2 years ago #
CrazyDogLady
Member Profile

Wow, luckymom30, sorry she didn't appreciate it -- you sound like good neighbors. Once or twice (okay, quite a few times) UPS has left packages at the wrong house or next door because even though we have everything clearly marked they can't all seem to figure out that they need to leave our packages in the alley. (We literally have two signs out front spelling out clearly how to get to our house.) We're always mortified that our neighbors have to be bothered with our packages, so I will thank you on your neighbor's behalf!

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Thanks CrazyDoglady & Mike for your kind words!

It is ironic youmention having problems with UPS deliveries, I spent th last two ears trying not to have a nervious breakdown because the UPS driver would constantly leave our packages at another address, but what really got me was a Christmas package from Disney was left at the wrong house (it had our same house number) but it was on a differtn street 1 block away and those people who live ther kept the package opened it up and shared the items with neighborhood children as if they had paid for them. I had to contact both UPS and Disney, UPS would not admit to any wrong doing because they see themselves as the delivery and not the shipper so Disney sent our daughter 2 sets of books (I ordered just 1 set) and they threw in afew other fun items for her because it was Christmas. I did walk to the house it was delivered to and spoke with a neighbor across the street who told me the people were not friendly but get this the man I was talking to told me his daughter was given some the Pixie Hollow items and has them in her room. I paid for those buddy! But he never offered to get them and bring them to me. I complained so loudly now UPS has the regular driver back on the route.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

luckymom..

if you see someone casing an empty home in your neighborhood, take down license numbers and call the police.

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
Member Profile

If someone else opened my UPS package and wouldn't give it back, I would definitely call the police.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

I contacted the Police and they said that they couldn't do anything because the package was accepted even though my name and address were clearly printed on the label. Disney sent me a copy of the label, I still have the email confirmation witht he name and address of where the package was to be delivered. When I contacted UPS they said nothing could be done because they said I had the package because it was delivered to my same home address, however they told me a different street number and I could not get them (UPs) to understand I did not live on that street number but 1 block over. After maybe 12 calls to different people at UPS I finally looked up the corporate office of UPS in Atlanta and called and spoke to the CEO who called the dispatch office here in Seattle and finally I got a call from a supervisor who did more checking and did find I was telling the truth that I did not accept the package because of the name written on the UPS board. UPS supervisor sent the regular driver back from is vacation (not knowing what is going on), to the house that accepted my package, they claimed to not know anything about the Disney package, not knowing I had sopken to a neighbor who told me all about the items in the package. So I signed a form to let UPS investigate the matter further and then received a call telling me that nothing could be done, UPS was not taking any responsibility for the misdelivered package and for me to contact Disney for replacement. I call Disney and they very kindly sent me replacement items and threw in several other items for our child and sent the package via another method to avoid UPS altogether. I do whatever I can to avoid using UPS even though the regular drive has been put back on the route.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

how can UPS not take responsibility for a mis-delivered package if there is proof that you did not accept the package? It is their job to deliver the package to the correct address..

it may be that disney has to pursue the matter.
i ran into that with a package from Verizon delivered by Fed Ex.

Unless of course the address label was incorrect.. in which case the responsibility is either Disney's or yours.

Since Disney stepped up... you seem to have come out of this ok..

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

The package was labeled correctly and the reason that UPS will not take responsibility I was told by the supervisor is because UPS is only the delivery service not the shipper. This has happened to us twice and in each case we had to contact the company we purchased the items from to get a replacement or a refund.

Be careful using UPS. Also, our rgular driver told me to never go to the UPS store to drop off packages and pay for shipping at the counter, instead print your label at home and give to any UPS driver and save yourself some money. The same goes with scheduling a pick up.

Yes we did get a replacemnt but it has left me with a sick feeling that a "neigbor" would keep items that do not belong to them, let alone items for a child at Christmas time. Very sad.

Posted 2 years ago #
KBear
Member Profile

Wow, what a lame response from the police. Maybe if you had spoken to someone else at the Police Department you would have gotten a different response. You could also have tried to get your money back from your credit card company, but then Disney would have had to pay for something that wasn't their fault (which they so kindly did anyway.) What rotten neighbors!

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Yes rotten neighbors indeed! Get this the parent who spoke with me (he was pulling in his driveway) that said he had some of the items I paid for in his daughters bedroom said he was a proud Arbor Heights parent (why he thought I should know where his daughter attends school I still do not know). He also said that the neighbor who accepted the package shared the items with other neighborhood kids.

Hmmm - so again what kind of message are you sending to your kids, regardless of which school they attend?

Unfortuately our daughter had to learn a hard lesson fast on how some people are dishonest and apparently teach these lessons to their children.

Also, I did speak to 2 different people at the Police station one on the phine and I also made an inperson stop at the SW Precinct.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

just because you can
doesn't mean you should

what goes around
comes around

the karma lady is going to have a busy year

Posted 2 years ago #
cjboffoli
Member Profile

Bump for luckymom30.

Can you see it now?

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Yes I can see the link now! But get this the where is..... link is now gone and so are all the postings! Is this site haunted??? Thanks for posting a link for me! :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Trisket
Member Profile

Get this- I would NEVER enter on and take ANYTHING from a neighbor’s property, least of all packages or US Mail, without specifically ASKED TO DO SO by that neighbor. Did your neighbor across the street ask you to collect her packages and mail? If not, she should have you arrested for burglary, I would. Your neighbor apparently wants to be left alone so LEAVE HER ALONE. Also, if you think your neighborhood is not so good perhaps you should move to a neighborhood you think is better.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Well then Trisket she would have to arrest most of the neighborhood that collected her packages and kept shuting her over-flowing mailbox! It is none of my business how she is not at home but it does become my business and that of the entir neighborhood when men in vans and other cars are slowly crusing or stopping by peeking in her windows and literally casing around her property it makes the whole neighborhood unsafe. Glad you aren't one of my neighbors. We know nearly everyone on the block and she is the only one who is stuck up, let alone her trying to "reserve" parking in front of her house.

If you read the whole posting you will see we are leaving her packages sit out front. If it were me a single woman having whatever emergency or whatever that made me leave my home for whatever reason I would be very ppreciaitive that the neighbors I snub everyday and give dirty looks to for parking in front of my house or anywhere ner are caring enough to place my packages inside the back gate or leave a note stating they have taken the packages to their home for safe keeping until you return, which we all did.

We have noticed the young woman is having work done on the house so hopefully she is going to sell the house and leave the neighborhood that tried to befriend her.

There is a huge difference between how we all tried to help this young woman and how rude and inconsiderate the family 1 block away was in stealing on daughters Christmas packages and sharing them with others on their block making their children think that they purchased those items when they belong to me and our daughter and I paid for them.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

luckymom30

trisket has a point...

people are often not grateful when we take it upon ourselves to decide what is good for them

if neighbors hadn't emptied the blocked mailbox, the postal carrier would have cleared it and held her mail until she picked it up

and the packages could have been piled on the back door...

I agree that neither of your troublesome neighbor's actions is in the best interests of neighborhood community and safety...

but none of us has the right to insist that our neighbors live by our standards...

what you see as helpful
she apparently sees as intrusive..

so call the police if you see suspicious activity
and take down license numbers
that will keep your neighborhood safer...

i walk to my front gate and call across to people i don't think belong to my neighborhood
asking if i can help them
sometimes i am helpful
mostly i let them know that someone is watching

I am sure some neighbors think i am that nosy lady
but i know others who appreciate my watchfulness..
we had someone casing our neighborhood before Christmas
two neighbors at different ends of the street convinced them this ours was not an easy mark..

the neighbor who doesn't want to be helped
may find that was a bad choice
but it is her lesson to be learned

the karma lady..
she is a bitch.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

Wanted to add that I've just had an experience with UPS similar to luckymom. I'd been tracking a package and it appeared to be out for delivery yesterday. I was working at home and keeping an eye and ear open. My desk is adjacent to the front door, and the gate is visible (and audible) from that spot. In addition, my dog comes charging out of anywhere if there is even a tiny clink of the gate latch. I had been checking tracking at least hourly; about 4:30 I clicked on the tracking link again and was shocked to see that my package was logged as "delivered" at 3:49. I hadn't heard or seen anyone come in, and when I went outside there was no package to be seen. Clearly my package had been dumped at another address. I called UPS and they were shockingly worthless. The first person I spoke to wrote my name and phone number on someone else's lost claim, then cut me off. Someone else called me back asking if my address was somewhere in Wisconsin. They said they'd forward the correct information, but that didn't happen. A third call this morning and I was told that only the shipper could make a claim. The reason I called yesterday was that I was hoping they could still contact the driver so that he could retrieve the misdelivered package. The shipper was great and gave me a full refund, saying that UPS had never found a lost package for them. The problem is that the item I ordered was one of a kind and irreplacable. Can't get another one. I'm furious, and will never use UPS again if possible.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

anonomye..

sorry to tell you this, but fed ex isn't any better. been there. done that.

so far the US Post office appears to be the best bet. And if you go into the local branch.. a real live person takes your complaint and acts on it on the spot whenever possible.

Unlike UPS and FEDEX, the US Post Office thinks the recipient of US Mail is as important to their business as the sender.

Posted 2 years ago #
austin
Member Profile

Agree about the post office. I buy and sell an amount of glass art, handmade one offs and fairly valuable. Had an unfun experience with fedex not honoring an insurance claim on a damaged package a couple of years ago and I've stuck with usps ever since. Never had a lost or damaged package using them, as a sender or recipient, domestically or in the world. (knock-knock). Usps have their faults to be sure but priority and express post actually work pretty well. There's even a secret post office downtown that never has a line, even in December (oop did I just break the first two rules of secret post office club?).

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

Yep! I use the good old USPS whenever I can to avoid UPS.

I too also use the "secret" post office downtown it is great there is no line even during the holidays.

Posted 2 years ago #
anonyme
Member Profile

I used to do a lot of shipping and the USPS was the most reliable and cheapest option -- at least for packages. The mail is another story. Unfortunately, many retailers don't offer a choice. The shipper suggested that I demand a signature delivery in the future, but that doesn't solve the problem completely. This week really sucks.

Posted 2 years ago #
luckymom30
Member Profile

I find it interesting that Trisket mentioned that we should be arrested for keeping an eye on the neighborhood and retrieving one or 2 packages of our neighbors and closing(never removing) any of the mail just shutting the mailbox (both the mail and UPS aske us what was what with the packages out on the porch and the mailbox overflowing apparently with mail) if we would accept your packages which we did (as did several of the neighbors) and not once did Trisket mention that the MORONS who Accepted ( not by signature) our daughters Christmas packages from Disney and distributed the item s to area children (who attend Arbor Heights I am told) should be Arrested! We never opened the packages, never distributed the items to anyone, delivered the packages in safe condition to the neighbor whom they were addressed to before she had to ask for them (we left a note telling her we had her packages).

We do some shopping online from companies that ar not here in Seattle and I use to believe that the only shipping method was UPS until they screwed up way too many times, losing my computer with all the software in their wharehouse for over 5 months, their drivers contunally leaving our packages at the wrong address, etc... I could write a book! But if you call the company that you want to order from and tell them there is a problem using UPS they can/will offer another method of shipping, and most times I choose UPS. Yes, the mail service has had it's shar of problems (mail thefts, etc...) but it still works far better than UPS or Fed EX. I finally got to speak to the "right" person a supervisor after I contacted the Corporate Office of UPS.

Posted 2 years ago #

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