West Seattle Crime Watch: HP “burglary pattern,” plus 2 robberies

| Crime | South Park | West Seattle news

As promised yesterday, we followed up with police on the “Highland Park burglary pattern” mentioned during a Community Police Team briefing at the Admiral Crime Prevention Summit Tuesday night. Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James summarizes what’s happening:

We have had a string of daytime residential burglaries – 29 in the month of March. The one significant pattern for them is that they are forced entries. We have made a couple of burglary arrests and identified suspects of burglaries in that neighborhood but haven’t tied those to the string of burglaries. We’ve put extra patrols in that neighborhood. Again, as you know – we’ve stated over and over how much we need the citizens out there to be vigilant and call when they see something suspicious.

If you see that suspicious activity/person NOW – call 911. Meantime, we also asked Lt. James about overnight robberies. He confirms that the 7-11 at California/Charlestown (map) was held up just before 2 am today, by robbers described as “two males,” one with a handgun. Police believe the same suspects may have been responsible for a robbery attempt in South Park three hours earlier, at the SP Grocery in the 8900 block of 14th S. (map) And back in West Seattle, Lt. James also confirms a call we heard on the scanner and mentioned via Twitter – A man in the 5400 block of 31st SW (map) answered his door around midnight, and a man “brandished a handgun and forced his way in. The victim got the suspect to leave somehow without being injured or taking anything. This suspect doesn’t match the two commercial robbery suspects.” (Thanks to Diane for the 7-11 tip, after she heard it on a Channel 5 newscast.)

A April 1, 2010 (6:05 pm)

We’re in Highland Park, in the heart of the burglary area. We’ve had a couple of suspicious possible-casings, and tried to report them, knowing that were were in the midst of a fairly significant upswing in burglaries (during the day, forced entry) Called the non-emergency line with dates, times, descriptions that matched very closely to dates of some of the activity, and the non-emergency desk said “yeah, let your neighbors know.” In order for any of the instructions they’re giving us to WORK, they need to get the guy who answers the non-e line to give a sh*t.

MB April 1, 2010 (6:43 pm)

Amen A! I live in HP as well and I thank you for trying and agree with your comment.

bridge to somewhere April 1, 2010 (7:03 pm)

Yup.

beef April 1, 2010 (11:56 pm)

so, can you show us where the burglary pattern is? i’m a highland park resident and want to know how concerned i should be….

WSB April 2, 2010 (12:20 am)

Beef, I don’t have the addresses. The CPT officer for Highland Park often brings a printout of area crime highlights to HPAC meetings, but the next one isn’t until late April – the next WS Crime Prevention Council meeting is a little sooner, April 20. Do you have a Block Watch? Some of them have their own miniwebsites, like this one:
http://9000blocksw.blogspot.com
.
But in terms of concern – in the broader sense – burglars COULD hit anyone anywhere anytime – or may NEVER hit your house – all the usual common-sense hints could help – here’s the official police list:
http://www.cityofseattle.net/police/prevention/Neighborhood/burglary.htm

Travis April 2, 2010 (1:06 am)

So A,
Are you assuming he didn’t take down the information you were giving him?
What makes you think he doesn’t care. If the non emergency line wasn’t taking the information people are giving them, they wouldn’t have the burglary and suspicious behavior patterns that they work with.
He told you to tell your neighbors because you should tell your neighbors.
Are they supposed to give you sympathy and talk you through your frustration with the amount of calls they get per day? They aren’t Oprah or counselors. They write down information for telephone calls and relay information to people with non emergency questions. Dont blame the police, blame the thieves.
Cut the police some slack. They are doing what they can and making arrests.

onceachef April 2, 2010 (10:46 am)

Hey Travis – “attitude” (sounds like you have plenty to go around) is very important when the officers answer a call…I had a “bad” experience with a 911 call, I complained to the commanding officer and he took the time to listen to the call – guess what? – the officer that took the call was reprimanded for the “attitude” and sent to retraining. I DO think the police try very hard to do what they can…they can’t be everywhere all the time, I get it. But if we take the time to “participate” as citizens then we should expect a certain amount of respect for doing that, not a “yeah, yeah, whatever” attitude. No one has to counsel us or act like Oprah just say thanks for the information…that’ll do.

Jesse Maxwell April 2, 2010 (2:17 pm)

When did the forced entry in 5400 blk of 31st avenue happen? I noticed some suspicious activity around midnight on Wednesday night. I live right there. I heard something that was like a loud thud, then something like a car alarm. My roomie and I walked outside to check it out, but there was nothing there.

WSB April 2, 2010 (2:34 pm)

Jesse – just before midnight is when I heard it on the scanner and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/westseattleblog/statuses/11411989265

A April 2, 2010 (4:48 pm)

Wow, Travis, sounds like perhaps an episode of Oprah or a couch session might help take your attitude down a notch.

When I say they didn’t give a sh*t, I MEAN they DID NOT GIVE A SH*T, and said so. The officer answering the phone, when directly asked “do you want the guy’s description or any information from us (like WHO WE ARE) in order to keep a record” said emphatically, “no. I’m not writing any sort of report or record. Just tell the neighbors or something.” The tone of voice made it VERY clear that we’re on our own over here in Highland Park, at least as far as he was concerned.

So perhaps you could quit with the assumptions, eh?

laurel April 3, 2010 (1:33 pm)

the equation goes like this: welfare recipients that breed and pass down thier drugging and stealing lifestyles obtain section 8 voucher – slumlord in your hood accepts and bingo lots of burglaries.

anonymous April 3, 2010 (2:05 pm)

I agree that you should call in ANYTHING suspicious. Please note that loud and blarring music is suspicious as it may be masking a crime. Your neighbors may not be able to hear a crime in progress if a neighbor has music playing very loud. I don’t mean to sour a party but it is the truth. Also, I think that it is important to note that I believe there are ordinences related to noise. I wonder how no neighbors heard forced break ins?

anonymous April 3, 2010 (2:11 pm)

BTW, not so sure about “common sense” advice. I know my neighbors, I have a dog, I have exterior motion lights and my home was still broken into. Sorry to relay the news…. am not sure of a solution. All I can do is keep moving forward in my life….I think it is important to put it behind you and move forward. This crime wave is not good. Has it been happening all along or am I just paying more attention because I am a crime victim? Ophrah… any commments?

Keith April 5, 2010 (1:41 pm)

I can’t believe the number has risen to 29. We just installed some alarm systems in that neighborhood over the past few weeks and the residences told me that it was around 19 break-ins. I’m sure glad that they have some arrests. If anyone needs help securing their home please let me know. We are a security company local in West Seattle and this is what we do for a living. ksawka@freedomsystemsinc.com – 206-229-8075

hp break-in victim April 5, 2010 (1:50 pm)

“common sense” isn’t going to help to prevent crimes that make no sense. We have a security alarm, surveillance cameras, motion lights, block watch, etc and still we were victims of the latest crime spree. These criminals are brazen and reckless and just don’t care if they get caught because guess what… the “system” is just going to allow them back on the street IF they ever get caught. They’ve got NOTHING to lose…
Don’t become complacent when it comes to your safety and security. Operate under the premise that haven’t been broken into yet in HP, its going to happen. Sorry to be the pesimist here…
I agree we all need to keep moving forward in life and try not to become too bitter about the whole thing. I still have my health, my family and my job (for now).

HolyKow April 5, 2010 (3:59 pm)

As posted before, I do not keep a gun in the house, but one of these guys is gonna walk in on a shiny new Mossberg 500 and a homeowner with 2 young kids and a wife and the ‘No Duty to Retreat’ law will cause these thevin’ lowlives to think again before they break into another house.

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WA law states that:

The law allows use of deadly force in the lawful defense of oneself, a family member, or any other person, when there is reasonable ground to prevent action(s) of the person slain to commit a felony or to do injury or harm, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or in the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, on those in their presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which they are.

Washington state doesn’t have a specific Castle Doctrine law, but has no duty to retreat as precedent was set when the State Supreme Court found “that there is no duty to retreat when a person is assaulted in a place where he or she has a right to be.”
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Again, don’t have a gun in the house, but if this keeps up, might change that. I will not live scared of these dirtbags breaking in on me, my 3 month and 3 year old sons and wife. Some say it’s only stuff, you can replace stuff. I agree, but there is no guarantee that when that door gets kicked in, they are only going to take stuff and not the life of you or your family or both.

Be safe, lock your windows and door, but do not take sh1t from dirtbags breaking in to harm you. They don’t deserve the time it takes to think about not defending yourself with authority.

Sorry, comment time is over.