West Seattle Crime Watch: Park theft; tree vandalism…

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports today. From Trissa, a theft at Camp Long:

We were at Camp Long with students & had locked a purse in the kitchen during the day. It looks like it didn’t get locked after lunch & someone snagged it and a Nike jacket between 12:30 and 2:45. We’re filing a police report and looked through the bushes and along the road leaving camp. If anyone comes across a silver coach bag, please let us know!

At Schmitz Park, someone is vandalizing a tree, says the Seattle Nature Alliance:

Last week, someone had apparently cut and peeled bark from this old-growth native Western Red Cedar in Schmitz Park, leaving a bright red scar.

A few days later, more bark had been peeled from the same cut. Removing bark can harm trees and is not allowed in Seattle Parks. Trees like this cedar are among the few remaining old-growth trees we have left in Seattle. They have stood for hundreds of years. They were protected for us, and we are protecting them for future generations.

From South Delridge, Mike spotted possible evidence of package theft – an empty parcel box, with packing material nearby, left on “the curb along the south side of Barton, where the stub of 17th off Delridge used to be.” He reported it to a Seattle Police officer he found nearby, so if you’re in that area and missing a package, be sure you report it so they can connect the dots.

flimflam May 28, 2014 (5:32 pm)

what sort of cretin would do this to a tree on purpose? somebody out there needs a hobby.

Rick May 28, 2014 (5:53 pm)

If caught, I propose the culprit be made to watch the movie “Clearcut” with Graham Greene for 48 hours straight. Not quite the same as this but I believe they’d get the point.

ACG May 28, 2014 (7:38 pm)

The trees in Fauntleroy Park have been getting tagged with graffiti. Probably close to a dozen different trees in the last month alone. Makes me angry to see that and to hear about the tree in Schmitz Park. Grrrrrr

Westside45 May 28, 2014 (7:47 pm)

How about peeling the perp’s own bark?

pilsner May 28, 2014 (8:20 pm)

Imagine how many theives could be caught if people started putting boxes on their door steps and a webcam filming the front door.

Michael Waldo May 28, 2014 (8:50 pm)

I have sat and looked out the window recently and saw squirrels peeling bark off of my trees. I think they use it to make nests. It is baby squirrel season.
It could be vandalism but it could be nature.

Mike May 28, 2014 (9:01 pm)

The city should send an arborist to take a look and mend the wounded tree to help it. That little amount won’t kill that tree, but it isn’t great for it either. Bears and deer do more damage than that in the wild and the trees typically live for hundreds of years.
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Interesting read on Schmitz Park history http://www.seattle.gov/parks/history/SchmitzPreservePk.pdf

Trissa May 28, 2014 (9:15 pm)

Whoever stole the purse, then used cards at a Safeway and other places. They also went to her apartment and ‘broke in’ using the keys in her purse. If you saw anything suspicious between 12:50 and 2:30 around Camp Long or nearby, please post a message.
Thank you!

cj May 28, 2014 (9:40 pm)

Some people burn cedar for the smell, some sacred purposes or to keep away bugs. Still hurting a valued tree like that just wrong. Perhaps if a sign was left letting the vandal know people were unhappy about it they might worry about getting caught and leave the tree alone.