Crime Watch: Burglary reports, including a much-forwarded e-mail

| Crime | Gatewood | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports: First, an e-mail that may have landed in almost every inbox in West Seattle, judging by the number of people who forwarded it to us. When we first saw it Monday morning, we tried reaching contacts at the Southwest Precinct to get it confirmed or denied; we didn’t hear back but will try even harder tomorrow. Anyway, the note tells the story of a daylight burglary last Friday, apparently in Highland Park, going on to say that police told the victim that there’s “a ring of high school students that look for empty homes during their lunch hour” and are dropped off and picked up by someone; the note also says “This is going on 6-8 times a day in West Seattle alone, in all neighborhoods.” Higher than any local burglary rate we’ve ever heard, so we will persist with our police inquiries today to see if that’s really the case. Meantime, one other burglary report has come in, from Grace in Gatewood:

Wanted to let everyone know that there’s been a burglary in the Gatewood area on the 3500 block of SW Southern Street (map) right off of 35th Ave. Entry was through a kicked-in ground-level back door while the owners were out of town. If anyone saw anything suspicious on this block between Friday the 22nd and Sunday the 24th of January, please report it. No one was hurt, but lots of items of sentimental value were stolen.

mona January 26, 2010 (2:05 am)

Did the email specify where in Highland Park the burglary took place?

WSB January 26, 2010 (2:36 am)

Near Riverside Park, according to the one version that I believe is from the original writer – though it includes forwarding quote-carets (>>>) which left me leery of excerpting the whole thing – I mostly wanted to mention it here to let people know we ARE working to follow up on it – TR

Brian January 26, 2010 (9:44 am)

A neighbor sent me an email concerning this new trend of breakins.

An off topic but relevant note to West Seattelites.

I left my home for 90 minutes over lunch on Friday, during which time, I was burglarized in broad daylight. They smashed in the back doors and bolts, and took everything sacred and of any value to me, especially my jewelry. All electronics, computers,etc.

The police said its a ring of high school students that look for empty homes during their lunch hour. They may ring the bell to make sure the house is vacant, then go in thru windows, doors, etc. ,and smash and grab anything of value in 10 minutes or less — so alarms may go off but the polcie rarely get there in time. Their van/truck drops them off, then picks them up with all of the goods, which are then pawned, sold on ebay, etc. There was a white ford king-cab pick- up one neighbor saw, 4 black boys inside, and he thought it suspicious, but he didn’t get a license plate. They’re pros and wear gloves so no fingerprints are left behind. If they are caught they’re juveniles so they get out of jail instantly. The police believe adults are behind it who then sell ID, pcs, etc.

Anyhow, I thought you should know. Had I known, I could have taken action to be more vigilant, taken inventory of my jewelry,etc. This
is going on 6-8 times a day in West Seattle alone all neighborhoods.
When I went to Home Depot for a new door, locks, etc., there were two people in the aisle with me getting new locks — their homes had been hit as well during the day on Friday.

PLEASE get the word out to give people a chance to protect themselves.

WSB January 26, 2010 (9:57 am)

That is the e-mail that I mentioned. I am working to get police to confirm or deny the “ring” part, and the “six to eight” part, which is completely off the usual chart of even what would be considered a high rate of burglaries. I have heard from the Ops Lieutenant this morning for starters and it’s news to him; he is meeting with detectives today and will get back to us – TR

Stephanie January 26, 2010 (10:21 am)

Our home was broken into on Jan 13th between 2:30 and 3:20pm on the 4400 block of 38th ave SW. They got through a window (on the front of the house) that did not lock.They did not take any electronics other than two digital cameras. All of the jewlery, expensive perfume, cash, and strangely enough a men’s suit. The strange thing is that they cleaned up after themselves. Did not ransack anything, closed drawers they got into. put the jewlery box back together, etc. Not convinced that it would be high school kids, but you never know. Just thought I would share this information. Also heard of another break in on the 4400 block of 39th Ave SW on Jan 3rd. Entry was through a dog door.

Chris January 26, 2010 (12:30 pm)

This is the same profile of our robbery — broke in through door window middle of the day, didn’t ransack, took only small electronic items — which I posted about on December 23 (and reported to the police). We are in Highland Park, on 16th and Trenton.

Michael January 26, 2010 (12:48 pm)

As WSB has just determined, the chain e-mail is bogus. As evidenced in many of the comments on this blog, some people are paranoid and on edge as it is – they don’t need a “good neighbor” spreading fear.

Mary January 26, 2010 (1:49 pm)

There was a break-in on 50th north of Waite last Wednesday. The back door was kicked in and valuables were taken from upstairs.

Chris January 26, 2010 (4:07 pm)

Michael,

I don’t see any “paranoid” comments on this particular thread. Can you be more specific?

Charles February 14, 2010 (11:31 pm)

My car was burglarized in broad daylight today at about one PM in a crowded parking lot in Fremont California. It was a shopping center at Mission Blvd and Warm Spring Blvd off highway 880. The incident happened between 5-10 minutes while I left my car. I locked my car, went to a restaurant and came right back to drop my puppy in the car since the restaurant didn’t allow the puppy in. My wife’s purse was taken with her ID, credit cards. I didn’t hear a sound. The alarm didn’t go off either. The rear right window was smashed. I saw some guys sitting in a car two lots away before I left my car. I suspect they were the perpetrators. But I can’t provide any details except hat the car has a fading blue color and it’s a pretty old sedan, perhaps one of the Japanese makes. It is a scary area. I won’t go there any more, for shopping or dining.

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