West Seattle Crime Watch: Another Civic stolen; another Lincoln Park car prowl

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning. From Dave:

Sometime last night between 10 pm and 6 am, our car was stolen. It was parked directly in front of our apartment complex near the intersection of 61st and Beach Drive. We had just purchased the car about a month ago. It is a silver 1996 Honda Civic hatchback. There are stickers on the back in the shape of the states NJ and CA and also a blue W sticker on the back window. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

We also have a report of a car break-in in the south lot at Lincoln Park – a window shattered, items taken from the trunk, including a Toshiba laptop computer in a maroon slipcover and a bag with cards, phone, etc. The victim got the bag back – it turned up “stuffed in my mailbox with a police officer’s business card attached” – but the laptop remains out there somewhere. Let police know if you find one.

SIDE NOTE: Car prowls were described as Lincoln Park’s most-common crime problem when the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council sponsored a safety walk at the park last year.

35th February 27, 2014 (10:19 am)

“stuffed in my mailbox with a police officer’s business card attached”
–
Thats the kind of personal community policing we love in West Seattle!

Joan February 27, 2014 (10:40 am)

I became aware of car break-ins at Lincoln Park lots a couple years ago, and now if I go to the park, I refuse to park in the lots, and instead park on a side street near houses. Ditto for other parks in the city, if possible. You can’t be too careful.

sc February 27, 2014 (12:48 pm)

Why can’t a sting operation be set up in Lincoln Park to catch the thieves?

miws February 27, 2014 (1:40 pm)

The break-ins at the Lincoln Park lots have been happening “forever”.

Some 24 years ago, my ’67 VW Beetle, parked in the south lot, had its wing window pried open (not doing any damage, fortunately), and my case of several, mostly self-recorded, cassette tapes, and a little bit of change taken.

Funny (not ha ha) thing was, I was gone a relatively short time, (like less than 1/2 hour, IIRC), because I was not feeling well, and cut my walk through the Park drastically short from my usual one.

Mike

enough February 27, 2014 (1:51 pm)

I was gonna say same “stuff” different day but maybe different decade is most appropriate. It’s sad people can’t even go to the park without having their car broken into or their car stolen from in front of their home.

JanS February 27, 2014 (2:02 pm)

and for people to remember that while going to the park, if they are hiding things in their trunk, don’t do it in the parking lot. The thieves are watching. Stop blocks away, and put them in the trunk with you….or take them with you..

Margaret in Vashon February 27, 2014 (2:10 pm)

Mike, nooooo, not your mixtapes!! Do you think that somewhere there is an aging criminal-type still moving and grooving to your recordings of “Light my Fire” and “Incense and Peppermints?”

Jordan February 27, 2014 (2:10 pm)

Our car was broken into last night in Arbor Heights on 37th between 108th and 110th. Nothing valuable was in the glove box or console. They attempted to take a few quarters from the change slot, but dropped them. They did however get a Chevron gas card. Luckily nothing has been charged and the account is now closed.

miws February 27, 2014 (5:09 pm)

Margaret, actually it was mostly Reggae, as I recall. Although I’m sure was some Classic Rock as well. :-)

On subsequent walks down to the park at the time, I always made a point to look around the trees and bushes, especially near the lot, hoping they’d opened the case up and tossed it, have not had the same musical interests.

That was actually my last time parking there. After work most days, I’d alternate between stopping there before heading home, or to Alki, for my walks.

After that incident, I would drop the car off at home, (on the way, actually), and walk from there, as I was only about a mile away from the north end of the Park, Just meant fewer back and forth passes through the Park.

Mike

Jenny February 27, 2014 (7:28 pm)

Before I moved to Seattle, I worked in a VERY bad neighborhood in Cincinnati (you’d be surprised – I’ve never seen anything like it here) and we learned early on to leave NOTHING in the car EVER. No quarters or towels or receipts or any kind of junk, let alone anything of value. Our car looks like a rental it’s so barren inside, and we never get broken into. (Knocking on wood). Any little thing is a temptation to someone who’s desperate.

Hortzig February 27, 2014 (8:28 pm)

Your found property stuffed in your mailbox??? Not really a great example of community policing… Our car window was smashed several weeks ago at Westcrest dog park, along with 3 others. There was nothing in the car – a very nice woman was waiting when we exited and said she’d called SPD- who told her they wouldn’t respond unless the registered owner was there. So, does that mean if I go on vacation and my house alarm goes off, they won’t respond unless the homeowner is there? We’re totally pro-PD, but not so much at this point…

batgurrl February 27, 2014 (8:52 pm)

Jordan. What creeps are sweeping thru our quiet streets. No one is safe from their evil ways. :(

John February 27, 2014 (11:55 pm)

You guys got any leads? What about the credence tapes?

Rob February 28, 2014 (12:10 am)

Does anyone know who I might contact to become involved in the Highland Park block watch? Cheers.

WSB February 28, 2014 (7:09 am)

I believe there are multiple block watches in the area – One step you might take to ask the best way to figure out who is active (or maybe you need to start one!) would be e-mailing the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, which is a volunteer community group – wsblockwatchnet@gmail.com –

Rob February 28, 2014 (1:19 pm)

Perfect, thank you for the information. I actually saw the Bock Watch section of the SPD website, which appeared to be the place to initiate a block watch. Seeing the posted Highland Park community watch sign, I just assumed one was already in place. I will email the Block Watch Captains network to connect with them. Cheers.

WSB February 28, 2014 (1:23 pm)

SPD can help you start one. Historically,though, they have been reluctant to connect block watches with each other, which is a large part of the reason the grassroots WSBWCN got started!

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