West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspected car prowler scared off

| Crime | West Seattle news

Chris e-mailed to alert folks about a suspected car prowler, scared off by a delivery truck early this am:

Last night/early this morning at 3am I woke up to the sound of a loud car engine. It was a constant reving noise and not like the sound a good car engine makes but the sound of an engine that needs some serious tuning. It sounded like the car was about to die as the engine was sputtering really loud. I got up to look out the window and saw a older dark red car. The driver was out of the car checking the doors on the two cars parked on the street to see if they were unlocked.

A delivery truck came around the corner and startled the guy and he ran back to his car and pulled out of the complex really fast and actually pulled out in front of another car. I didn’t hear him come back.

This was in the newer Sylvan Ridge Townhomes complex on SW Sylvan Heights Drive.

Everyone needs to remember to park under street lights, lock their doors and keep valuables or any items in their car out of sight.

Sylvan Heights Drive isn’t in Google Maps, so we couldn’t link a map, but it’s near Forest Lawn cemetery east of High Point.

Joglin December 2, 2008 (2:34 pm)

Yes, please make sure car doors are locked. I thought I locked the door of my car overnight and came out the next morning to find that someone had been sifting through my glove box and arm rest. Fortunately nothing was stolen but I am reminded to triple check that the doors are locked and alarms are on. Incident occurred on 29th and Brandon between Brandon and Findlay.

AH December 2, 2008 (3:11 pm)

I also had a car which was unfortunately left unlock last night that someone when through. I think they only got a pair of sunglasses. Incident was near 46th near Admiral. I recommend keeping your doors locked also and no valuables in site, I had another vehicle broken in 2 months ago at the same location where they smashed the side window to get in.

homesweethome December 2, 2008 (6:58 pm)

We live in Admiral and our underground secured parking has been hit yet again. We think we may know the culprit but it is so hard to catch them in the act despite security measures. Our block watch advises leaving nothing, zilch in your car not even a newspaper.

tj December 2, 2008 (9:50 pm)

-Leave nothing in your vehicle, open your glove compartments etc for prowlers to see in.

-Also, for vehicle theft… using a steering wheel lock is a great deterrent. A thief will see this in your vehicle and most likely move on to the next car that does not have one.

epl December 2, 2008 (10:42 pm)

I left my car locked in the parking lot of my apartment in the Media-Bellevue neighborhood only to have it stolen! Yep, from the foo-foo area of Washington, this still happens. Don’t leave ANYTHING to chance. It happens anywhere. Just “be aware”. Hang in there; I know first hand what it feels like to be violated, even if only it being an inademant object as a car!

bmb December 3, 2008 (10:34 pm)

We had our car rifled on the night of Dec. 1. Didn’t take anything, though. This has happened to us previously. We think they were looking for money as nothing else was taken including sunglasses, maps, shopping bags, and other non-valuable items. This was on 47th and Hinds area.

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