Two notes from the WSB inbox might best be termed “neighborhood alerts” – one a warning of vandals on wheels, the other, a potential scavenger, at the very least – read on:

First report came in last night, from someone who didn’t want to be identified:

I just witnessed a car of teenage kids driving down my street (5200 block of 45th AVE) [map] launching rocks at parked cars on the street as they sped by. I waited out front hoping they’d come by so I could report a plate, but no luck. Keep a lookout.

And from another WSB’er who did not want to be identified:

I reside in the block off 18th SW and SW Thistle. (Saturday) at 11:40 am I drove onto SW Trenton, heading to Westwood Village.

I observed a junk / metal scavenger, 11:40 am at 18th SW and SW Trenton [map] – all yellow Chevy pickup (late 80’s or 1990’s), extended cab (1/2 side window behind driver); white wood side panels around bed; WA plate = (starts with A)

The driver had stopped and was looking to the back of a property. He got out and walked into the yard, then turned and went to the front steps of the home – he may have talked to someone, I couldn’t see. He then went back to his pick up, taking nothing, and drove slowly west on Trenton. At the alley before Delridge Way he turned into the alley (south). About half way into the block he backed into a driveway. I drove up in front of his truck, stopped, and got the license plate – he clearly saw me doing this. I did not speak to him. As I drove out the alley, he appeared to park forward in an apartment lot.

I do not know that he was stealing from yards, he appeared to try to talk with someone.

But there have been metal thieves who have gone down our streets stealing metal from yards – they did this from my yard a couple years ago, I chased them and got them to return my stuff.

So this is a precautionary notice of a scavenger working the streets.

In addition to sharing information like this with the community at large here, we also recommend Block Watches – and regardless of whether you do or don’t have one in your area, you are welcome at the next meeting of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, looking at crime information available online – 6:30 pm April 26th, Southwest Precinct.