West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen bicycle to watch for

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:43 PM: Relatively quiet weekend so far in West Seattle Crime Watch – not just in reader reports, but also via the other ways we monitor police responses (thanks to those who have texted/e-mailed about various sightings of multiple police cars – nothing that has turned out so far to be anything of major note, but we continue to watch for reports). We do have a bicycle-theft report this morning: David says the photo above is a bicycle similar to the one stolen from the porch of his home near 32nd and Trenton overnight, between 10 pm and 4:30 am, “a Magna “Grand Ledge” mountain bike, w/ broken left hand gear cable and round bell on right side handlebar.” The same household was hit by bike thieves a few years back, and a WSB reader spotted the stolen bike, so the victims are hopeful that might happen again. (In many cases, police explain, criminals steal bikes as transportation to another crime scene – so you might find a stolen bike in an area where one or more cars were prowled/stolen.)

11:38 PM UPDATE: Bike’s back, David writes in the comment section, thanks to Guy, who spotted it near California/Admiral tonight. Another reminder that our peninsula is one big neighborhood – so something that is stolen or lost might turn up miles away *(5, in this case) – report it to police, tell your Block Watch, but then let us know too so the word can get out peninsula-wide.

LIv Watson February 3, 2013 (5:11 pm)

Bikes can be so hard to identify just as a good samaritan.Youth riding all up and down my road today,new to me,and not that far from the crime scene with a couple other loud kids,live on 17th 9000 block and it was a loud weekend here,people talking and getting in and out of cars from 2am on last night.I think people when they buy a bike should spray paint some kind of personal thing on it intitially,sure it can be painted over but at least might be recovered in the first day or two.

Guy February 3, 2013 (7:03 pm)

Just saw that bike at Circa 2 minutes ago.

David February 3, 2013 (10:47 pm)

Guy, it was my bike, which is now retrieved and safely home! Thank you so much for your tip. WSB and Guy, thank you for true civic mindedness – – you’re a ready example that an alert community the best remedy to mindless petty theft, and that our westside is a much better place to live for having WSB living and working here.

So, for a second time, WSB has enabled the retrieval of my stolen bike within a day of its being taken, thanks to timely postings and alert citizens! What better accolade than to say WSB is what every news organization should be: fair, factual, and fast! WSB & Guy, thank you ever so much!

David

Rachel February 4, 2013 (12:19 am)

My dad had his $4000 road bike stolen off his back porch just a week or so ago, 11th and trenton. Tgey replaced it with a crappy mountain bike… Wonder if its the same thief. My patents house backs to an overgrown alley which was their entry point, left the gate open, so they had to have known the bike was going to be there.

Guy February 4, 2013 (2:55 am)

What kind of bike is it? Brand name?

AE February 4, 2013 (8:17 am)

Yes, always post a bike description or photo of a similar bike – some of us compulsively check every bike that we see, particularly it something seems amiss (someone riding a bike of the wrong size, or riding a $4k race bike in jeans…)

David February 4, 2013 (4:42 pm)

Who knows, Rachel, might be the same thieves. When they took my bike they didn’t leave another lesser mode of conveyance, but did leave a Seattle Times’ want-ad section in it’s place. Justice would be served if the next time they steal a bike they’re transported instead by a Crown Vic to the nearest precinct.

Rachel February 4, 2013 (6:35 pm)

Its a silver and black focus.. Luckily their home owners is going to cover the loss but hes still bummed, he just got the bike late last summer.

Greg February 18, 2013 (3:20 pm)

My giant mtn bike was stolen from under the back porch about a month ago. Reported to a police officer who happened to be in the area. Dual disk brakes, ugly spray paint to make it look undesirable, didnt work.

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