West Seattle Crime Watch: Another stolen Honda; 2 cases of explosive vandalism; more

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

STOLEN CAR: From Bill:

I live just north of Admiral Junction and adding my red ’97 Civic hatchback, license 701 HMN, to the long list of stolen Hondas. I have a Club and pretty sure I put it on last night.

If you see Bill’s car, call 911.

MAILBOX, TRASH CAN EXPLOSIONS: Following up on e-mail we received early today, we learned that police are investigating two incidents last week. First, on Thursday in the 8600 block of 17th SW (map), a home mailbox was blown up – the resident said a piece of it was found 30 feet away. Police found what appeared to be part of a firecracker. A neighbor said she saw two teenagers hanging around the mailbox and then taking off running about the time of the explosion. Nobody was hurt. The next day, after 3 pm in the 8100 block of Delridge Way (map), they got a call from someone who reported her trash can had just been “blown up” – she was driving toward her home when she saw smoke pouring from it. A roommate was home but didn’t see it happen. An Arson/Bomb Squad member investigated that case, according to the report. No definite description of suspects in either case; the teens seen running after the Thursday incident were described as male, one white, about six feet tall, white shirt and blue jeans, the other black, with “unidentified clothing”; in the Friday case, police were told a slender 18-to-20-year-old African-American man in a yellow-and-red shirt, “possibly a San Francisco 49ers jersey,” and blue jeans was seen running from the area after the explosion.

EGG VANDALISM: A reader who asked for anonymity reports, “My car was egged on Charlestown Street between 44th and 45th [map] (likely) on 1/19.” Yes, you can report this as vandalism; the reader says the online form is problematic, though, because the vandalism section doesn’t have a dropdown for “car.”

MIDNIGHT PROWLER: A Seaview resident e-mailed:

Thought I would report that I had a weird happening Saturday around midnight. Someone rang my doorbell. When I went to answer the door, no one was around. I called police and they came and checked around the house and the neighborhood. They did find evidence of someone on my porch, but saw no one. Just an alert to let people know to be cautious. Police said someone was probably checking out the house to see if anyone was home, so they could break-in.

P.S. Lots of interesting information at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – still under way as we publish this – watch for at least one report later.

17 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Another stolen Honda; 2 cases of explosive vandalism; more"

  • jissy January 21, 2014 (8:38 pm)

    Wow, where is Seaview technically? That would scare the SH*T out of me! So sorry that happened, what a rude awakening!

  • A January 21, 2014 (9:23 pm)

    Live in Seaview area. Where was this?

  • Savannah January 21, 2014 (9:24 pm)

    Earlier this fall we had some friends that had the same thing happen to them…around midnight near Madison Middle School (also to their neighbors – same night). Scary! Also would like to know more specifics as to where in Seaview.

  • wssz January 21, 2014 (9:47 pm)

    Seaview is west of the Alaska Junction. Do a search on Google Maps and you’ll see exactly where it is.

    I live in this part of WS and would really appreciate an approximate location to get a sense of just where this happened.

    Very disconcerting to have this happen.

    • WSB January 21, 2014 (9:51 pm)

      It’ll have to come from the person who e-mailed us – they did not include specifics other than Seaview.

  • K January 21, 2014 (10:24 pm)

    I think it’s a little strange to go from *someone rang the doorbell and wasn’t there* to *casing the joint*. It’s probably just kids, someone drunk or an honest mistake. I know we’re a “assume the worst” society nowadays, but this seems over the top. I understand it’s annoying, it’s happened to me. Oh well, little pranksters! I think the police can use their resources more wisely.

  • JulNJer January 21, 2014 (11:19 pm)

    We had our Toyota pickup stolen out of our driveway in east Arbor Heights (bordering White Center) this past Friday night. Just found it parked on California Ave by The Bridge Tavern, so we jumped in and drove it home. We got VERY, very lucky.

  • wssz January 21, 2014 (11:55 pm)

    K — How vulnerable each of us feels depends on many different factors — are we living alone, elderly, frail, young in first apartment, single mom, have a protection order against former friend or family member, etc. Good for you that you see this as an annoyance. You’re lucky that you feel safe. Personally, I would have contacted the police and not made assumptions about who was ringing my doorbell at midnight.

  • Seaview73 January 22, 2014 (6:47 am)

    I would classify seaview as west of California ave, between Alaska and Morgan junctions.

  • Jissy January 22, 2014 (9:05 am)

    Thank you Seaview73, closer to me than I thought.

  • NicMarie January 22, 2014 (9:24 am)

    JulN be sure to report it found! My friends and I were pulled over and surrounded the other day by Bellevue police (we hadn’t done anything, scared the heck out of me) turned out, SPD forgot to take the driver’s car off the stolen list after it was recovered!

  • Skeptic January 22, 2014 (9:50 am)

    Bill I am sorry to hear your Honda was stolen. I recommend some kind of alarm system, or at worst a 50 cent red LED glued to the dash. People are constantly advising the use of “The Club” or other POS steering wheel locks on this site but as you now know they are worthless. Thieves can cut through your crash friendly plastic steering wheel with a hacksaw in 30 seconds, then pull off “The Club”. I hope you get you ride back.

  • North Seattle January 22, 2014 (9:37 pm)

    I had/have a “Club” on my brake. That is all steel and is a few layers to cut through. A few times thieves have tried to take my car, but it is too much work and would need the right tools. Also, I take the face of my radio out every time I leave the car.

    Wendy

  • Bee January 23, 2014 (6:09 am)

    Thanks North Seattle for the confirm on your steel brake club. People do not believe me that it will work. Obviously it did for you. We use ours and feel the car is better protected than the steering wheel club – from what we have heard. Your posting is encouraging that we went the right direction.

  • JulNJer January 23, 2014 (7:00 am)

    NicMarie, great advice! Didn’t even think of the possibility of being pulled over for driving our own ‘stolen’ vehicle. We did report to the police that we’d found our stolen truck, and they were pretty ticked off that we’d taken it back without letting them ‘secure the scene’ first. Not sure what they wanted to secure, as when they came to our house to confirm we had the vehicle, all they did was look at the license plate.

    We asked if they wanted to check for prints but they said they don’t do that. I seriously wonder why they don’t do that for vehicle and home thefts! Granted, it’s not like it’s a murder scene, but the (to me) violation of our homes and property by a criminal should be considered as serious. I just don’t get it.

  • Scott January 24, 2014 (4:05 pm)

    Had my Honda four-door stolen from the back alley off 44th and Spokane.
    Heard something about 2 AM last night did not get up had a bad cold so i went back to sleep.
    whole backseat full of plumbing tools in buckets and power tools to do side job.
    All my essays and observation journals for school due next week.
    Kinda devastating.
    I’m a student trying to get good gas didn’t need to have this happen.
    93 gray gold Four door Honda accord lx small dimple dent left front fender, small dimpled dent left rear trunk.
    See it please call Seattle police, report has been filed.

    • WSB January 24, 2014 (4:08 pm)

      Sorry to hear this, Scott. If you haven’t already – please send this to us at editor@westseattleblog.com and we can include it in the Crime Watch report I expect to publish within the next few hours – Tracy

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