West Seattle Crime Watch: Two burglary reports

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – first one from a Gatewood resident who interrupted a burglary at her home near 44th and Othello:

Despite having protective film on our basement windows, intruder punctured window to unlock and slide open. He didn’t get anything and drove away in his own car parked right out front. He didn’t injure me and wasn’t armed. I got plate number. SPD says plate matched car I described and car owner matches my physical description. A known burglar on probation just arrested a few days ago.

She says it was a red ’92 Toyota sports car, first three digits AHZ. The other report comes from a Highland Park resident

I live on the 7500 block of 15th Ave SW, between Holden and Webster. During the day on Tuesday July 16th, someone (or two) broke into my house, through a small and high “back of house” window I had stupidly left unsecured. I’ve talked with the police and filed a report. The thieves entered my house and grabbed small items (sentimental to me) they probably thought might be worth something, and emptied a container of pennies. They could only exit through the same small window so that was all they stole, thankfully. When I returned home, it took me an hour of feeling like something was “off” before I finally realized I had indeed been burglarized. It pisses me off that my house was invaded/violated by little s—heads (clearly wee s—heads due to the size of the window), and they stole things my deceased family had given me over the past 55 years, but they also put my indoor cat at risk. I’m extremely angry right now for multiple reasons.

Side note from the crime-prevention department: Is your neighborhood signed up for Night Out (two weeks from Tuesday)? If not – go here.

Tbone July 18, 2013 (10:03 pm)

Yuck. More than prison time, I sincerely hope these people wake up someday with a conscience…

Connie July 18, 2013 (10:33 pm)

This is in regards to the 2nd crime, about a week ago, I went to a four plex that my brother owns (behind Super Saver Foods on 16th in White Center) and is fixing up to rent out again. He asked me to drop something off. I went to the apartment and found out that it had been burglarized. Sheriff figured it was kids because the container for cigarette butts, which is about 3′ tall was placed under the window to get in. The way the screen was destroyed and the amount and type of tools that were taken, indicates that there is probably an adult helping out. The container for the cigarette butts in not light either. It would be nice to catch this party.

K July 19, 2013 (12:37 pm)

Response to story number 2: I know the feeling. It is especially harsh that they take/ destroy sentimental things. I too was “burglarized” and it definitely makes you look at people differently. I hear about this kind of thing so often it makes me think that it must be very, very difficult to catch these people and prevent it from occurring. I personally have tried to take what happened to me and use it to make myself a better person. Even though I am still irritated and quite disappointed by all that occurred… I try to think about all of the people who DID help after the bad thing happened. It helped me to realize that for every one scumbag there are a lot of good people in the world who will lend a helping hand.

The Truth July 19, 2013 (5:33 pm)

Gatewood Resident, I live on the 7100 block of 44th so I am assuming you are a close neighbor of mine. I am so sad to hear that this happened to you. My wife and I are setting up a Seattle Night Out BBQ for the street. I hope you come out and share your story. We have a lot of new people on the street and it would be good to have us all looking out for each other and our street!!! We will have fliers later in the month for the August 6th BBQ.

DM July 19, 2013 (9:35 pm)

I’m the home owner from story #2. I’m still jittered, but I wanted to share what I had the presence of mind to do the following morning after the robbery: I got on the phone and started calling my neighbors I had numbers for. I explained what happened. They were outraged, supportive and appreciated hearing about it. Then I knocked on the doors of some neighbors across the street that I wasn’t well acquainted with, introduced myself and explained what happened. They were disturbed by the break in, supportive, and thanked me for letting them know (and we exchanged phone numbers). Then I had some long face to face conversations with my long term close neighbors that I hadn’t reached on the phone earlier. Some of them already knew and had been spreading the word about the break in. My neighborhood was communicating and coming together! The more I talked with all of them, the safer I felt. We’re all looking out for each other and spreading the word about minding the open doors and windows. As one neighbor put it “when it happens to one of us, we all feel the violation”. I returned home with a reduced sense of isolation, with a safe buffer of my neighbors around me. I love my neighbors!

I also wanted to mention: the reason the creeps could only exit through the same small window they entered and couldn’t steal anything larger: I have dead bolts on my doors that require a key to exit. So thankful for that.

Thank you to the West Seattle blog commenters that have been supportive!

ted nakahara July 20, 2013 (8:06 am)

DM – I live in your area as well. good to get to know your neighbors. I know mine and it is very nice to continue to be on the lookout for eachother!
unfortunately it hasn’t stopped car prowling whether occasional back yard loitering :(
As someone else mentioned …. these rats waking up with a conscience…. I’m not gonna hold my breath.
re the interior keyed deadbolts-you may want to revisit that issue. In an emergency you may not remember where the keys are and imagine the tragedy if you can not get out. If you don’t have an alarm system (they are cheap & worth the peace of mind) think about some wireless sensors.

DM July 20, 2013 (7:36 pm)

Ted, I appreciate your concern about the dead bolts that require a key to get out. Like many owners of old houses, I have two locks on each door. The dead bolts that require a key to get out are for when I leave the house.

Sorry, comment time is over.