West Seattle Crime Watch: Three stories to share

First: From seattlepi.com – Six people have been indicted in connection with a prostitution ring, and they allegedly are affiliated with what’s described as a West Seattle-based gang. Read the story here.

Second, Derek P sent this photo, and the report that follows:

Just another FYI for West Seattle residents who believe that they may live on a quiet street. I returned back from work today passing my girlfriend’s vehicle parallel parked at SW Raymond St. & 30th Ave SW [map] What do I find? Gold paint running along the bottom of the drivers side (see photo). Reported to the SPD. No witnesses. Her vehicle happened to be one of two parked along the street at the time (4:30pm). Fortunately, the paint was still somewhat soft so I managed to remove most of it with some bug / tar remover plus some elbow grease. At first I assumed it was spray paint but I’m not so sure. I will probably go back out later to ask neighbors who may have been parked on the street earlier to see if their cars were hit.

Finally, Susan in Upper Fauntleroy sent this after reading about the stolen Buddha on Alki earlier this week:

Within the past week we had a large (4 foot) carving of a fisherman with a large fish stolen from our front poarch. I would love to get it back, it was rather unique, but I don’t have much hope. However, I wanted to let you know because there may be a trend and I want others in the West Seattle community to learn from our experience.

ljd March 26, 2009 (8:27 am)

In August my car was parked near 42nd and Edmunds and I got a couple of eggs splattered on the side of it. At first I thought it was just punks having fun but I realized the eggs hit the logo of the car (they must not have liked the brand) and after researching how to remove egg, I found it can be very corrosive when it dries on car paint. Luckily my car was not harmed, however it did take some wax and a LOT of elbow grease to remove it. Not sure why my car was hit… I think some residents of West Seattle think they own the parking spot on the street in front of their house and do things to annoy people they don’t want parking there.

westseattleite March 26, 2009 (9:15 am)

The gang article is pretty scary. I have noticed a lot of graffiti around the Junction and surrounding area lately. Is this all gang related? The Rite Aid on California is recently sporting some new grafitti too. I feel like West Seattle can either go in one directon or the other. The grafitti, garbage and crime that seems to be more prevelant makes me wonder whether I should continue to stay in West Seattle.

viilagegreen March 26, 2009 (9:34 am)

A Westside gang? Reminds me of Ali G’s Westside Massive.

Stephers March 26, 2009 (10:05 am)

Looks like a paint ball.

concerned citizen March 26, 2009 (10:06 am)

westseattleite – of course you should continue to stay in West Seattle! We can’t let actions of a few punks destroy our beloved home! We need to be vigilant (not vigilantes mind you) in preserving our community. There is a website that you can report graffiti:

http://www.seattle.gov/UTIL/Services/Garbage/Reduce_Garbage_&_Litter/Graffiti_Prevention_&_Removal/index.asp

westseattleite March 26, 2009 (10:16 am)

Thanks for the grafitti website. I didn’t know about it.

TeresaP March 26, 2009 (11:12 am)

Why all of the sudden is West Seattle having these issues? It seems that things have started to get worse here in the last year or so.

I have my own opinions but would be banned from this blog if I was completely honest.

onceachef March 26, 2009 (11:14 am)

Yeah, don’t leave…fight back (non-violently)…organize a block watch, meet your neighbors and discuss ways to prevent these things from happening. If we give in, the punks win.

beatrice March 26, 2009 (11:37 am)

Leave West Seattle to go where? Doesn’t everyplace have its own issues?

WSparent March 26, 2009 (12:22 pm)

well… our school just gave the older kids another hour to be unsuprvised… they are our of school an hour early and community programs have been cut… they are bored….uninspired youth looking for something… sadly gangs are often ‘it’ for them. gangs provide a sense of stability, a place to belong….

my kids are not in gangs so i know that there are other things that can be ‘it’ for kids… just not all kids…

elevated concern March 26, 2009 (2:18 pm)

Have you looked at what’s happening to Alaska Street east of Fauntleroy to 35th lately? There is not one business, be it the VFW, Doctor’s office and most certainly all of the empty properties have been tagged. Just add a few more boarded up windows like the one at 38th and Alaska and it’s pretty clear, no one cares, and it shows.

delridgeneighbor March 26, 2009 (4:29 pm)

Yeah, I agree- the gang article is a bit disconcerting as I live in the Delridge neighborhood where the gang is thought to have formed…

WTF March 26, 2009 (8:46 pm)

Where are the cops? Spending too much time in White Center?! Hmmm, maybe the “criminals” have figured this one out?

Funny, I live near the the SW Precinct. More cops cars parked in the lot, than on the street.

DALYDBL March 26, 2009 (10:54 pm)

Wow. Is this gang leader’s middle name REALLY “Cashmoney”?

westseattleite March 27, 2009 (10:54 am)

Beatrice,

Yes, every place has it’s issues, but some issues are worse than others. I lived in Palm Beach County for 17 years and break ins, grafitti, garbage lying around and car prowls were never prevalent. And I didn’t live anywhere near Palm Beach. The worst thing I had to contend with were possible hurricanes.

Sorry, comment time is over.