West Seattle Crime Watch: Alert for under-bridge parkers

| Crime | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox from Pigeon Point resident KK:

I just wanted to let you know two of our windows were smashed under the West Seattle Bridge sometime Sunday evening to Monday morning. They stole our ashtray, our chains, the emergency kit, and a bunch of empty cloth bags all in the trunk.

We had moved our car down to the bottom of the hill because we could not drive up and down Andover to get to our house.

I just want to give a warning to NOT park your car at night under the bridge. It is not safe. We had nothing in the car. The items stolen were about $50 at most. It cost almost $500 to fix the windows (and trying to find a place open yesterday was a challenge.)

It was a fabulous Merry Christmas; thank you, thieves/vandals. I hope no one else has to deal with this.

KatherineL December 23, 2008 (10:05 am)

They stole cloth bags? We have ecology-minded car prowlers now? What a green city we are. But the ASHTRAY? What the heck?

RobertSeattle December 23, 2008 (10:19 am)

Ugh – that’s awful. And that area tends to be somewhat “lit” at night as well. I’ve noticed that area has become the defacto chain up/off area for some people going up or down Admiral or Avalon.

Vickie December 23, 2008 (10:39 am)

Oh, gosh…KK – so sorry to hear that, car break-ins are the worst…

atemybuick December 23, 2008 (10:56 am)

KK-Sorry to hear you had to deal with that on top of everything this weather is throwing at us. Someone went through the glove box and console of my car Saturday night/Sunday morning (yes, during the storm). It was parked on the street a few blocks behind the Thriftway. It wasn’t locked and I keep nothing of value inside. I understand not everyone can empty their car out every night but that’s the best solution I’ve found after a few smashed windows and cut convertible tops (way more expensive than windows).

Celeste17 December 23, 2008 (11:54 am)

KK I had a car stolen from under the bridge about six years ago. I had parked and took the bus to work and came home and it was gone. So sorry for the damage to your car.

A Westwood Neighbor December 23, 2008 (2:14 pm)

We also had the chains stolen right off our car, which we had parked just off 35th for fear of going down the side streets to our house. Luckily only the chains were stolen, and the interior was not broken into. Sorry to hear about the break-ins!

booger December 23, 2008 (4:52 pm)

Parking under the bridge? There’s no way I’d leave my car there for any length of time. I see way too much brokem glass… from cars!

Stu December 23, 2008 (4:54 pm)

Kind of makes you want to park a car filled with phosgene under there and see who gets their just desserts…

mar3c December 23, 2008 (6:13 pm)

stu, i was thinking along the same lines; but traps of any kind are illegal.
.
in any case, we need to reintroduce shame to our society. so instead of phosgene gas, how about a bright pink paint bomb? no physical harm, plenty of embarrassment.
.
or a nice police sting might be in order.

SpeakLoud December 23, 2008 (7:37 pm)

Is it really the location? Don’t cars get stolen, broken into and wrecked anywhere-right in front of your house even? If you have to park your car anywhere except your garage don’t leave your stuff in it.
Prevention is the key my friends-although I have to say the ashtray was a little much!

MM December 23, 2008 (9:12 pm)

was the ashtray just full of change? that’s why they took ours – that’s what us non-smokers use them for…

KK December 24, 2008 (6:35 am)

Nothing was in the ashtray. Ironically, they left the tin full of about $10 in quarters.

WTF December 24, 2008 (12:45 pm)

mar3c, I think that any law abiding person who just happens to have clipped mouse traps in their bags would fair well, if only for some satisfaction that it might hurt when tripped by thieves.

Sorry, comment time is over.