West Seattle Crime Watch: Missing a guitar? + 2 more reports

| Crime | West Seattle news

West Seattle Crime Watch (and related) reader reports to share:

STOLEN CAR: Pam reports her husband’s car was taken from outside their home in the 5600 block of 25th SW on Monday afternoon – green 1994 Nissan Altima, four-door, Washington plate AAJ8298. Just two weeks ago, she says, their cars were hit by prowling and siphoning. Speaking of car prowls …

CAR BREAK-INS: From a 31st SW resident:

Just wanted to let you know that on 31st Ave SW between Thistle and Elmgrove, we experienced 3 car prowls (Sunday) night. Two of the cars were locked and armed- those folks are thinking that somehow the thieves have keys to their cars. My car, stupidly, was unlocked. Thankfully nothing of HUGE value was taken, but I wanted to get this out there to remind people to take their valuables inside at night.

POSSIBLY DISCARDED LOOT: Received this note:

I found a guitar in the alley by my garage Sunday morning (March 24th) in the North Admiral area. I assume it was ditched by some car prowlers early that morning since the neighbors’ car was broken into. Call me to identify it. 206 935-4063

One more quick reminder of a crime-prevention, neighborhood-empowerment meeting TONIGHT – the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, 6:30 pm, SW Precinct – you don’t have to be a captain, or even a Block Watch participant, to come be part of it.

MJaros March 26, 2013 (12:31 pm)

Has anyone ever tried hiding a spring-loaded mousetrap to deter car thieves from poking around where they shouldn’t? Seems like a good low-tech anti-theft device. I don’t if it’s legal to set a trap for that reason, though, or how a thief might respond after the trap engages.

Panda March 26, 2013 (1:07 pm)

I think I saw that on a road runner cartoon once.

Chris March 26, 2013 (2:56 pm)

I knew someone who used to put a razorblade by his car stero in NYC… Ouch!

bsmomma March 26, 2013 (3:10 pm)

Didn’t someone at Easy Street get his guitar ripped off???

vinyllover March 26, 2013 (4:41 pm)

I believe the guitar that Easy Street reported missing was stolen in Ballard, however worth checking out, you never know.

margaret from vashon March 26, 2013 (4:43 pm)

I’d love to hear from someone who knows the law about the mousetrap idea. Trouble is, I’d trip it myself, I just know I would. So . . . I have learned that I shouldn’t leave ANYTHING in the car that is visible from the outside, because who knows if it appears valuable to Bad Guys, right? But, I am still conflicted about the locking the car thing. Do I leave it unlocked so that they don’t bust it all up to get in? Oh, and loved the Roadrunner reference, @Panda. Has me thinking Giant Magnets, Wire-tripped Andirons . . .

Phillip March 26, 2013 (4:57 pm)

Unfortunately, if you did booby trap your car with razor blades or traps you’d be liable for any harm to them..

QQman March 26, 2013 (5:17 pm)

@Pam, your car was not stolen. The city towed it away. It had an orange sticker for some time and a Seattle parking enforcement officer came earlier in the morning and called to have it towed. Check with them and you will find your car.

East Coast Cynic March 26, 2013 (7:29 pm)

My car got towed as well a while back–it was parked around the corner from my living space and I hadn’t drove it for close to two weeks-broken wrist. Apparently, some resident who probably hadn’t seen the car before reported it and had it towed. You’ve got to move the car every few days to keep it from getting reported as abandoned. Over $500 to get it from a tow lot in Georgetown:/

Pam March 26, 2013 (8:05 pm)

Thank you QQman. Not sure why the police could not have identified this as the problem yesterday when it was reported stolen. My husband has been sick & not working so on top of hospital/doctor bills I can add another $200 towing fee and $44 72-hour parking ticket. Amusing that you noticed the orange sticker and we didn’t. If you see it again, feel free to give us a knock.

kelly March 26, 2013 (8:22 pm)

I saw someone acting very suspicious drive off in a dark 4-door (Chrystler?) by All Star Fitness–er, West Seattle Athletic. Club–at 7:35 pm on Monday night. I was half expecting to see a report here. If one comes in I’m a witness…

lankfactor March 26, 2013 (10:04 pm)

There is at least one parking enforcement officer driving around the neighborhoods in West Seattle looking for violations… so it wasn’t necessarily a neighbor calling in an unknown car. I didn’t know it was illegal to park an unhitched trailer on the street and my boat was ticketed… a couple months later, the same parking officer came by after I had parked my boat on the other side of the street (on my property) and wanted to write me another ticket! This time I was home and she told me that she just drives around and writes tickets all day. No second ticket though, she didn’t realize it was on private property.

Mike March 27, 2013 (1:01 am)

I read this blog regularly. Seems the car crimes are always happening in the same places. Is it that hard for the police to have sting operations and undercover patrols? At a certain point, you have to wonder if someone is looking the other way on purpose.

Rarejem March 27, 2013 (8:34 am)

FYI-you’ll ticketed and/or towed if you’re parking your car, rv, boat or trailers on the boulevard strips too. Even though we homeowners maintain them, they are a city right of way.

Pamela March 27, 2013 (9:03 am)

BTW if for “some time” you mean one day….. The ticket was issued on the 25th & it was towed the 26th. I guess we’ll just switch parking spots every 3 days. Does it count if its not parked street side?