West Seattle Crime Watch: Armed robbery reported @ mini-mart

From the scanner: Police are responding right now to a reported armed robbery at the mini-mart in the 4000 block of California SW. First report was that there were two robbers, both wearing masks, and they were last seen running or walking from the scene, westbound on SW Andover (map); they’re described as white males, “fairly short, 5-5 to 5-6, at least one armed with a handgun,” one masked by a black bandanna with a white pattern, the other with a green bandanna, both with hooded jackets. 6:17 AM: No word of arrests, but police were working on potential evidence/leads such as surveillance video and prints.

Megan January 28, 2010 (5:07 am)

There are cops driving slowly up and down Dakota right now shining spot lights in all of the yards. I hope they find whoever this is. Pretty scary to have this happen in your back yard.

samson January 28, 2010 (5:26 am)

I saw SPD at the corner of Fauntleroy and 35th SW on my way to work. is that related?

WSB January 28, 2010 (5:34 am)

Yes – they set up a fairly wide net of “containment” to look for the robbers and I heard that area mentioned. No luck so far, though – TR

Magpie January 28, 2010 (5:39 am)

I hope the proprietors are ok. I go in there all the time because I catch the bus in front of it every morning Hate to see this happen. Very scary for our neighborhood which is pretty quiet.

magpie January 28, 2010 (7:09 am)

Stopped by. They were shaken up but ok.

mark January 28, 2010 (7:21 am)

I stop there and buy gas from time to time, thats really too bad, it seems like a really nice family that runs the place. I don’t know if they remember me when I stop in, but they treat me like they do with a great smile and hello. It really makes a difference to me. Very sad and all the more reason to stop in more often.

charlieg January 28, 2010 (7:44 am)

This is my favorite mini mart in West Seattle. A very nice family runs it.

I hope they catch the creeps who did this soon.

cjboffoli January 28, 2010 (8:10 am)

People who commit armed robbery are already obviously idiots, but how much cash do they really expect is going to be in the register at 5:00 in the morning? Honestly, is it really worth committing a felony on camera and putting an innocent person’s life at risk for a handful of small bills?

shane January 28, 2010 (8:13 am)

I haven’t been in for a while, but in the not too distant past I was working an early shift and stopped in there every day on the way home for a snack. Wonderful folks and I’m heartbroken this happened to them.

KBear January 28, 2010 (8:45 am)

“how much cash do they really expect is going to be in the register at 5:00 in the morning?”

I guess when you need to buy drugs at 5 a.m., you take what you can get.

Holly McCracken January 28, 2010 (9:13 am)

I am so upset! We get our Sunday paper from this place and look forward to the kind reception we receive every week.

This is absolutely awful and I hope they can stay in business after the thugs get caught.

Jeff January 28, 2010 (9:15 am)

Seems like break ins and burglaries have gotten more common in WS lately.

marianne January 28, 2010 (10:40 am)

Terrible that this happened. The family that runs the place are the nicest people. I’m sure that was a terrifying experience for them this morning.

cjboffoli January 28, 2010 (11:47 am)

KBear: That begs the next question: What kind of self-respecting drug dealer is awake and working at 5am?

Rick January 28, 2010 (12:14 pm)

Crack and meth don’t recognize the clock.

jtm January 28, 2010 (12:43 pm)

The people that run this store are SO nice – I hope they are ok! What an awful thing to have happen.

TheCoffeeGuy January 28, 2010 (1:21 pm)

I know it’s not PC to say this, but please people ARM YOURSELF!!! Guns are not JUST for criminals anymore. Just think, if you are out to rob/jack/break in, you would stay away from areas that have a reputation of being armed. Rather you would hit up the area where people buy hoodies and boots for their pugs, and frown on guns. West Seattle is a sitting duck. Im as peaceful as the next person, but there comes a time when enough is enough. I keep a loaded .380 in my nightstand, and my wife knows how to use it. And a slap on the wrist isn’t good enough. come on police DO YOUR JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WSB January 28, 2010 (1:24 pm)

TCG, charges/sentencing, if that’s what you mean by “slap on the wrist,” happens with prosecutors and judges, not the police. And ultimately with legislators and the governor, who make the laws that govern how seriously crimes are treated, what sentences are considered “standard,” etc.

T-Rex January 28, 2010 (1:57 pm)

Right with ya Coffee Guy!

soosan January 28, 2010 (3:33 pm)

I’ll just add my name to the long list of people who have commented on the lovely folks who run the mart. I’m so bummed to hear this happened to them.

GenHillOne January 28, 2010 (5:55 pm)

Oh noooo…didn’t see this earlier. YES, the owners are wonderful people. We are customers that have become friends and this is so awful. Almost stopped on my way home, but will run up there now.

Dale January 28, 2010 (10:04 pm)

what are you saying coffee guy? Are you mad at the police cuz they haven’t apprehended anyone, within 7 hours of your post.

You say your as peaceful as the next person and keep a loaded pistol in your night stand? Please, don’t make me laugh any harder.

Travis January 29, 2010 (1:58 am)

And their back. Its been so long since the gun advocates commented I thought they were all sitting by their front doors and hoping to shoot the next burglar that rolls through their neighborhood.
Reaching for the gun behind the counter is a great way for a man with a family to support to get himself killed. Great idea coffee guy.
The small amount of money in a till, at any point during the day or night, is not worth playing hero for and risking getting shot. That’s why store owners use safe drops. Yes, we are all sitting ducks with guns by our sides to stop our cars and houses being broken into in the middle of the day while we are at work or to protect our beer at the bus stop from 14 year olds. Reality check, anyone?

Veteran Wisdom January 29, 2010 (2:30 am)

I also make it a point to shop local at this store. The owner who owns the store lives, four blocks south.

Now after being back from his Grandmothers death in Vietnam for less then a week, he gets held up at gun point as he’s opening his buisness…

I pray for these youths to find better role models…

K-witty January 29, 2010 (10:40 am)

I am so sorry to be reading this. The owners are such a great family and customers are always greeted with a smile. It’s such a shame that these sweet people are victims of a terrifying crime.

adt January 29, 2010 (11:19 am)

Travis, “Reality Check”. Police are underfunded, and the criminal justice system ( have you been on any juries lately, I have..) is overwhelmed and underfunded. You have a responsibility to make sure that you take care of your property and family. If someone chooses a firearm to accomplish this, while not necessarily the most palatable choice, they are within their rights to do so. I would not be unhappy if a few gang wannabe’s met an early death. Bad choices. Bad consequences. I pay my taxes and pay my tickets when I get em. If that is their choice, they should too.

lg January 29, 2010 (4:59 pm)

I also wanted to say how sorry I am this happened to this family. They are so sweet. It’s so uncommon to find people who work so hard for their customers.

Elisabeth January 29, 2010 (6:22 pm)

I too stop there from time to time and those folks are always pleasant and friendly. Stopped in there last night and said to the woman at the counter “I’m so sorry this happened to you!” She smiled and said “Thank you” in a faint voice. I told her I’d read about it in WSB on the computer, and she said “They took the computer too!”

Sorry, comment time is over.