West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 double-damage cases

First one comes from North Delridge: Thanks to the anonymous telephone tipster who called to share word that the Cottage Grove Shell store (5400 block of Delridge) had been broken into overnight. We went there to check it out and found boards on damaged doors (the store IS open); a worker told us that the burglar/s stole dozens of phone cards and lottery scratch tickets. Checking with police, we found out from Lt. Norm James at the Southwest Precinct that this store actually has been broken into twice in the past three days. Lt. James says, “Some type of pry tool used on both. There are currently no suspects in custody.” Detectives are investigating. Meantime, in other Crime Watch news, we’ve also heard from someone who’s had two cars vandalized in two days – and we have a followup from a resident in the neighborhood hit by a car-prowl spree last weekend – read on for those:

First, from Elyse:

We live on Marine View Drive S.W., and over the past two days, we have had two cars vandalized. First, someone smashed the back window of our van. We moved the van into our driveway last night so that the people coming to fix the glass would be able to work. My husband then parked his car along the street. Someone threw a pumpkin through HIS back window last night (he has a hatchback), of course shattering the glass and even denting the car. We filed a police report this morning – if anyone has seen anything, we would appreciate any tips! Thanks!

And we received a followup from Shelley on last weekend’s Gatewood car break-ins (original report here):

After I called all my neighbors on the blockwatch list I started to get calls back and since that night on 10/16 we now have 5 separate households reporting car prowls. We do know that they opened the door of a utility truck backed into someone’s driveway which would normally be loud but the rain must have muffled it. And they opened the garage door of a neighbor which was on street level. Nothing was taken as we all leave nothing in our cars.

One more mention … West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, 7 pm tonight (Tuesday 10/20), Southwest Precinct

rob October 21, 2009 (6:36 am)

I was the tipster that reported the cottage grove Shell break-in.

roberto jose delarosa October 22, 2009 (7:08 pm)

WSB. Thanks for all the good work you do, but it is time to once again remind your readers of the real causes of all this criminal activity in WS. Most of the car prowls, burglaries, and thefts are committed by juveniles. And the reason these miscreants are so brazen is because they know there is little chance they will be punished. First, most juvenile offenders do not attend school. Hence they have a lot of spare time to wander around your community and check for houses and cars that are vulnerable to their exploitation. Secondly, even if they are caught stealing your belongings (which is rare), these juvenile offenders are rarely punished. And let’s not forget that many of these thieves are reared in homes where the parent(s) is/are also involved in criminal activity. But the most significant reason for this epidemic of crime is because juvenile offenders do not fear going to jail. Doing time, so to speak, gives the juvenile offender “street credibility” or status among his peers. And during a brief stay in juvenile detention, the only punishment is boredom. Also, the offender is given the option of being placed in a drug & alcohol treatment center where the counselors treat them as patients in need of medical care instead of like the predators that these juvenile offenders really are. Ultimately, the blame belongs in the hands of the Washington State Legislature and the Washington State Supreme Court. Both these bodies have created an environment of extremely liberal and permissive approaches to juvenile justice.

Janet October 26, 2009 (2:17 pm)

Roberto is right on – not only the state but also at the county and city levels. One of the first areas to be cut during budget crisis is law enforement and corrections – early release of criminals and corrections officer lay offs just happened recently. There are plenty of areas of waste that can be cut before those that insure are safety. We need stiffer laws and punishments, especially for these juvenile offenders – if they even go in at all, they’re right back out.

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