West Seattle Crime Watch: Intruder on video – recognize him?

A Seaview family is reporting a burglary attempt – and they have video showing the person they believe responsible, so they are offering a cash reward for identification of the suspect. Their story ends with a link to the video:

A man entered our fenced yard in the area of 44th Ave SW and SW Findlay St yesterday morning on 4/25 at 2:50am. Our security camera captured him on our deck after he entered our gated and fenced yard from the alley.

Based on the video, he apparently attempted to enter our locked back door to the house, while we were asleep! You’ll see him go off screen to the left where our back door is. We have some stuff on the patio table during spring cleaning.

After checking our back door, he reappears and takes a roll of paper towels from the table. He left the wrapper in the driveway, which SPD is checking for fingerprints.

When the officer responded and took a report, he said there was also another burglary call pending nearby. The suspect is shown carrying a satchel and has something white protruding from his pocket, possibly taken from another garage or home in the area.

The suspect is a white male, 5’10” to 6 feet tall, about 190lbs, age late 40s – early 50s, with black hair, a narrow face with large nose, and no facial hair. He was wearing sunglasses on top of his head, a long black shirt, and a black over blue rain jacket and a silver stripe across the chest and back. The jacket has a grey logo on the breast, maybe Columbia? He was wearing blue jeans and open toed sandals or flip flops.

Based on his peculiar appearance and strange behavior, we hope he is familiar to someone on WSB, or if you have a business, he may be on your store video in better light and clarity with these same clothes, which can help SPD.

We are concerned he will return or victimize our neighbors. More concerning is that he may have been trying to enter our house while we were home … We are offering $100 cash to the first person who correctly identifies this burglar via our e-mail at the vimeo page showing the suspect: vimeo.com/41064349

The police incident/report maps on the city website show two other Seaview incidents yesterday, by the way – though there’s no way to tell at this point if they were related – an afternoon report of an “unoccupied structure on residential property” broken into in the 5600 block of 45th SW, and a residential burglary in the 5000 block of 41st early Wednesday morning.

41 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Intruder on video - recognize him?"

  • hmmmm April 26, 2012 (1:52 pm)

    anyone check the new QFC eating area? There always seems to be a collection of ‘dwelling challanged’ men there. The jacket looks familiar but if it’s North Face or Columbia, every other person in Seattle has one.
    ____
    Good luck finding him! It’s a good image. This was very creepy! I am glad we have a dog in the house.

  • Sunshine April 26, 2012 (2:06 pm)

    That’s disturbing to see but glad you are safe. It appears to me that he may not be alone. Doesn’t it seem that he is smiling after taking the towels, and looking off to the right like he was looking at someone? More than just looking to get off the porch – he was focused.

    You’ve inspired me to get my video system operational sooner than I planned. I hope you catch him.

  • Leah Warshawski April 26, 2012 (2:08 pm)

    Thank you for capturing this on video – what kind of security camera was used? I am interested in getting one of our own…

  • TLo April 26, 2012 (2:19 pm)

    I think its weird that he only took paper towels when it looks like there may be a table top heater there. Perhaps he needed to use the bathroom? Also, the porch light didn’t seem to deter him or make him put his sunglasses down.

  • Wetone April 26, 2012 (2:20 pm)

    Good friends had their home burglarized on Tuesday. It was on the 4400 block of 47th. Happened between 9:30 am and 5pm. Seems like there is a lot going on in this area, keep your eyes open for any strange activity in your area. Wish I could catch me one (burglar) I need some crab bait for the season.

  • Kaboom April 26, 2012 (2:26 pm)

    Can you get a screen shot possibly from the video? It’s kind of choppy when watching it. Need to get some flyers out to people on this one!

  • WSratsinacage April 26, 2012 (2:27 pm)

    Looks like the bastard is smiling. What a great job he did dressing as if he was just out for a walk after work. Hope he gets caught. Thanks for posting the video.

  • frank April 26, 2012 (2:38 pm)

    @Wetone – that’s really disturbing. Any details on the burglary?

  • Dylan April 26, 2012 (2:47 pm)

    $100 reward for a roll of paper towels? those must be some damn good paper towels.

  • Kandice April 26, 2012 (2:56 pm)

    Scary! We just had our large flower pots stolen from our front porch, 34th & Myrtle. The camera is a great idea, wish we would have had one on the flower pot theives as now I am concerned they will come back.

  • Rateros April 26, 2012 (3:03 pm)

    this is disturbing, and so scary.
    While you were sleeping.
    So scary.

  • Cstar April 26, 2012 (3:21 pm)

    What a weirdo. He must have been on something…

  • bridge to somewhere April 26, 2012 (3:27 pm)

    the video is very clear. i would create flyers with a picture from the video and paste them around west seattle. not only is this person likely to be caught, it will put other thieves on watch that they are being recorded. this kind of visibility is exactly what thieves want to avoid.

  • Nick April 26, 2012 (3:54 pm)

    He looks similar to an individual I’ve seen in the junction area and neighborhood to the west several times. Although the video quality is pretty poor to say for certain.

  • KBear April 26, 2012 (4:09 pm)

    That IS a great video. He’ll be easy to recognize if anyone knows him. I’d like to know what kind of video system it was, too.

  • Band geek's mom April 26, 2012 (4:20 pm)

    I’d say that hairline is pretty distinctive…

  • Seaview Burg Victim April 26, 2012 (4:58 pm)

    The camera used in the video is a Logitech Alert Indoor Camera. You can get them at Best Buy or New Egg. If it is your first one, you need to get the Master System which comes with a camera and is $300 at Best Buy, or a little more if you choose the outdoor camera.

  • fred April 26, 2012 (5:26 pm)

    someone just drove very slowly up my street in an old brown chev maybe about a 78, plate 715xgs that looked somewhat like the person in this video. hope it helps.

  • Curtissimo April 26, 2012 (6:06 pm)

    Creepy! And he just seemed to casually take a roll of paper towels.

  • Sara Perry April 26, 2012 (7:16 pm)

    My garage was open on the 25th. Nothing was taken as far as I can tell, but my back gate was left open. I have a dog, but I was on a walk and came back and found my yard open. I live in the same area on 44th.

  • bob April 26, 2012 (7:39 pm)

    Interesting dress, cold weather clothes, and open toed shoes? Sun glasses even on the head at that hour? and a perception of perhaps being a little bit decisionally impaired? (is that a word?)
    Anyway, good for you to have a camera, sad it is needed but alas in these time people get desperate. No matter…having someone intrude is so violating and disgusting to the persons affected. Time will help, but it is still not comfortable having some creep wander in for whatever reason.
    In addition, I try to be objective, but is anyone doing anything about the people at QFC, I think I have seen drug deals across the street with kids…. was going to call cops but they wandered off very fast, and some of the “transient looking” people are a little bit scary. I grew up in a big city but these are a little too much for me…along with the sidewalk beggers now appearing on California Ave in front of the theater and Telaricos. What is going on? I enjoy diversity and characters, but this is a bit much.
    Best to the family who had the intruder I so feel for you, keep a positive attitude.

  • ws_s April 26, 2012 (7:50 pm)

    Fred — Call 911 and report him along with the license plate. Posting the info here doesn’t get you to the police.

  • 4th of Eight April 26, 2012 (9:51 pm)

    He also appears to have quite a red nose and maybe also chin, if that helps with the description. Similar to rosacea or alcohol abuse.

  • Dom April 26, 2012 (10:17 pm)

    Seaview Burg Victim,

    Quick question; is the video automatically uploaded to the Internet? If not, what prevents the burgler from stealing the computer/cameras? Or is it only for outdoor surveillance?

    • WSB April 26, 2012 (10:54 pm)

      Open message: A few people have wondered if this might be a certain person with a crime/itinerancy history in Morgan Junction/Fauntleroy, not far from Seaview. Please address any specific possible names directly to either police or the e-mail account mentioned on the Vimeo page. The person in question is certainly well-known to police (and has been out of jail since last December, though that’s no guarantee he is in the area), but just because it “might” be him, we’re not going to break our name-using rules here, and won’t publish comments with any specific possible name. Thanks – TR

  • What The April 27, 2012 (12:52 am)

    Got milk?

  • Drop Cam User April 27, 2012 (3:56 am)

    For those interested in setting up inexpensive video (720p) with DVR functionality checkout http://www.dropcam.com. Not an ad, just a happy West Seattle customer.

  • T-Rex April 27, 2012 (8:34 am)

    Will keep an eye out for this dude, weird that he only took paper towels. Something may have scared him off. Scary!
    I was at the new liquor store next to QFC and someone had actually vomitted right outside the entrance. Truly disgusting and I am not going back.

  • sun*e April 27, 2012 (8:37 am)

    This is something I always worry about since we live in a secluded area. I just know we’ve had deliveries stolen from our front door portico but I can’t prove it. I am so going to install a camera now. Thanks to those with the camera advice.

  • hmmmm April 27, 2012 (8:57 am)

    @Nick – glad you posted, could be were I’ve seen him too.
    ___________

    I suspect TJ will have issues with the lovers of an early drink group, as they open at 8 am and have the $3 6pk beer and $2.50 wine.

  • Rich B April 27, 2012 (12:04 pm)

    I just saw this guy in the vicinity of California and Erskine. Riding a black bike black hoodie and large black back pack. he cruised up and down Dawson then down to 46th and Hudson. Lost him there. I called the police and described him. I bet he will be casing places for a midnight trespass. Be vigilant in the evenings.

  • lookingforlogic April 27, 2012 (1:13 pm)

    I work downtown and theft has been escalating in the past 2 years. Street people have not been receiving as much cash handouts and most, if not all, have desperate drug needs.

    I’ve been witnessing same individuals disintegrating for the past 2 years. Also, pay attention to service workers in the neighborhood that are checking out your house.

  • OP April 27, 2012 (1:30 pm)

    I agree with Dylan. Must be some damn fine paper towels.

  • WSGrrl April 27, 2012 (2:16 pm)

    I don’t mean to be snarky, but I can’t help but feel a bit frustrated by the fact that when my SO’s car was stolen and found one month later, the police had no interest in taking prints or doing any investigation. We practically had to beg them to pick up the stolen soccer equipment we found in the trunk and almost considered returning it ourselves. Yet they were more than willing to take prints from a paper towel wrapper.

  • Paul Sherwood April 28, 2012 (6:49 am)

    Was seen on Kenyon Pl across from Lincoln Park at 1:30am on the 27th. Looked in window and saw the man sitting in the dark petting his dogs. Man and dogs went crazy and by the time they got out the door after him he was gone. Police looked but didn’t find, probley ran into park. Comment is from ” don’t mess with “

  • Jimmy April 28, 2012 (11:18 am)

    He appears to be left handed as well…

  • Jenni Watkins April 29, 2012 (1:50 am)

    Thank you for posting this video. We should be evaluating the frightening boldness of this perpetrator. This is terrifying that he attempted to enter your home while your family was in bed. What a scary thought if you had left that patio door unlocked. Thank goodness you are safe. I have seen this man at Westwood village at QFC in past. He is tall 6′, 180lbs and that crook nose is memorable. I hope someone posts fliers around the village so he can be arrested. It doesn’t matter that he only took paper goods, the point is he tried entering your home with bad intentions. Thanks to SPD for helping us keep our community safe. Neighborhood block watch is key in maintaining safety and cleaning up the crime

  • I wonder...... April 29, 2012 (6:58 pm)

    I wonder if this is the same guy who I reported as acting suspicious on Friday down on Beach Dr… If this is him, they caught him. Called in a similar looking fellow who was carrying a loaded hiking backpack when I saw him on Beach Dr. SW., he kept turning around nervously and walking backward like he was being followed, or he could’ve been looking for the bus. Either way hejust gave me a bad feeling, so I acted on it. I act on everything now since Gregett’s (sp?) murder, even if I feel stupid calling it in. Anyways, my friend called to tell me that she saw that they were talking to the guy. Hope it was him!!

  • yo April 29, 2012 (10:48 pm)

    I live near this house. My fence door was opened on Saturday night by someone other than me. I’m guessing it was by someone poking around my back yard.

  • Westie April 30, 2012 (9:14 am)

    @ Seaview family, not doubting, but just wondering how you knew he tried the back door. I didn’t think I saw that on the video.

  • AlkiBeachUSA April 30, 2012 (10:14 am)

    This sounds like the guy who robbed John’s Corner Deli a few days ago.

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