West Seattle Crime Watch: Westwood robbery arrest; mystery car…

| Crime | West Seattle news

First, if you happen to have been at Westwood Village and noticed police this past hour:

SHOPLIFTING/ROBBERY: What was described over the air as shoplifting-turned-robbery at the Westwood Village Radio Shack drew a big police response. Our crew was told the employee wasn’t hurt; they’re still trying to determine what was taken. Police were searching for two possible suspects, described early on as Hispanic women 18-22, both 5’3″ to 5’4″, one thin, one medium-to-heavy, one dressed all in black, one in a gray jacket. We’re hearing of one possible arrest in a residential area several blocks north and will be checking to verify.

(12:35 PM UPDATE: SPD confirms a 15-year-old girl is in custody. Apparently the other possible suspect was not involved in the crime.)

(back to original report) A few other Crime Watch notes from the past few days:

RECOGNIZE THIS CAR? Shay says it’s been parked in her neighborhood for a few weeks and neighbors thought it belonged to someone working nearby, but now realize it’s abandoned.

Police will be contacted if they haven’t been already, but Shay got a stolen car back via this kind of WSB report a few years ago and so wanted to get the word out this way too.

CAR PROWLS: Last Friday night, according to a reader report, three cars, all Hondas, were broken into near 49th/Juneau in Seaview; someone “with a flashlight was spotted at 6 am and fled upon being observed.” No signs of forced entry, so neighbors are wondering if the prowler(s) have “a keyless entry.”

NEXT CRIMEFIGHTING MEETINGS: The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meets at 6:30 pm next Tuesday (January 27th) at the Southwest Precinct – you don’t have to be a captain, or even in a block watch (yet!), to attend. And if you missed the announcement published here Tuesday morning, Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole is coming to West Seattle for her first “community conversation” here, 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 3rd, also at the precinct (which is at Webster/Delridge).

P.S. The chief’s latest quarterly report to the City Council will be presented this afternoon – read it here.

anonyme January 21, 2015 (3:18 pm)

I heard someone blowing a whistle and yelling “thief” at Westwood Village around that time. That entire area has become a toilet, literally and figuratively.

Seattlite January 21, 2015 (3:46 pm)

I went to Target today and parked in the area west of B&N. There’s just a bad vibe anymore at Westwood. I don’t know if the rather sketchy looking people are part of the local neighborhood or coming from a bus ride. Westwood just doesn’t feel as safe as it used to before the gigantic bus stop and bus rest area.

seaview January 21, 2015 (3:49 pm)

Did one of the car prowls in seaview happen at night? Saw the cops on Juneau around midnight, then saw an extremely sketchy looking guy wandering down 48th sitting on cars.

Dan Farmer January 21, 2015 (4:51 pm)

You can use this to check the VIN number and see if it has been reported stolen. It is FREE.

https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

Bill M. January 21, 2015 (5:20 pm)

Was there just after it happened… The girl grabbed multiple items off the walls and threw them at the clerk while he dodged. There was a man there with his 10 year old son. The father was hit in the head with something that caused a bruise.

Timing January 21, 2015 (7:05 pm)

Westwood has become a thugs paradise, thanks metro for providing transportation and a quick get a way ride for the criminals. Maybe instead of metro drivers walking aimlessly around target while getting paid, maybe they could take on a security shift?

KT January 21, 2015 (8:14 pm)

Rather than metro drivers taking on a security shift, maybe Metro Transit sheriff’s deputies could figure out where Westwood Village is and make an appearance on a regular basis. That is why they were formed isn’t it?

Brian January 21, 2015 (8:14 pm)

Lol @ the idea of thieves using rapid ride as a “getaway car”. You’re delusional. You’re probably the same person who complains that public transit in this town is too unreliable and slow.

miws January 21, 2015 (8:22 pm)

Maybe instead of metro drivers walking aimlessly around target while getting paid….

Timing, it’s called a legally required, and IMHO, a well-earned break.

Do you want stressed out, mentally and physically fatigued people driving 40-60 ft buses on our roads? I don’t, especially since I’m a bus rider, on some of those buses.

Plus, they often get shorted on their breaks, to to heavy traffic, and other delays.

Mike

C January 21, 2015 (8:28 pm)

More info on the 48th seaview sketchy dude please…what night & cross streets ? Thanks

Zudfinne January 21, 2015 (10:07 pm)

@Timing do you get a break for lunch, periodic rest, etcetera etcetera etcetera where you work? These are well deserved, as they’re tasked with carting around these “criminals” riding in their “getaway metro car.” YOU’DE DUE FOR AN REALITY CHECK!

NotMe January 22, 2015 (12:18 am)

I can’t believe some of the nastiness in the comments. Now, on top of the police only preying on innocent people speeding on the streets and letting criminals commit crimes – now comes the lazy, “aimless” Metro drivers shopping at our beloved Target while getting paid. I really gotta stop reading the comments.

H January 22, 2015 (7:33 am)

It is not the neighborhood! Westwood is a great family neighborhood. There has been an abrupt change at Westwood Village with the bus lines ending there. And clearly it’s not bus drivers taking their legal breaks. I imagine it’s the people who ride the bus to it’s end destination and hang out. Clearly WS is having preteen and teenage gang problems as the other crime reports on the blog all reference teens and this robbery was committed by a 15 year old girl. I, for one, have been going there more frequently to combat the yucky-ness and for the first time in my life calling security and complaining when I see problems (empty liquor bottles, inappropriate behavior…). Maybe you should join me by doing the same.

The ph number for the security office is on the Westwood Village web site. They inform the janitorial crew as well.

miws January 22, 2015 (7:40 am)

Last night, after making my comment above, I did a WSB site search since “Timing”‘s comment rung familiar in tone in regards to those lazy Metro Drivers wandering around Target.

I actually responded to that comment as well, with a link to cite the Law requiring Employee breaks.

Timing’s comment is here:

http://tinyurl.com/lumcnl5

WSB brought up a good point, after a subsequent comment by Timing:

http://tinyurl.com/k8yc7uo

In reading through those comments by Timing, as well as other comments by him/her on other Metro related threads (search under the parameters of “by timing”, to avoid results with the word “timing” in the content of articles/comments) Timing clearly has an anti-Metro, anti-Transit, anti-Union, anti-Worker, anti-……. bias.

Mike

seaview January 22, 2015 (8:52 am)

Seaview guy was on the night of the 20th about midnight, wandering south on 48th from Raymond towards Graham. Bearded, wearing all black, cargo pants and a hoodie with some sort of native type design on the back.

Maria CPT January 22, 2015 (12:07 pm)

hey, thought that block watch meeting was this past Tuesday. I can make this one! Thanks, Maria

WSB January 22, 2015 (12:31 pm)

Maria, that was the Crime Prevention Council meeting. The West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network is a different group. But its meetings are also attended by police.
.
Everyone – We have just received some new info from SPD. I also have the report from Tuesday’s incident (which again, wasn’t reported to police until yesterday, so we had no way of knowing about it sooner). Followup to be published separately shortly.

anonyme January 23, 2015 (6:36 am)

I check the Crime Watch section on WSB every day. For the two block area on Barton bordering Westwood Village there are calls all day and night; assault, shoplifting, trespass, suspicious person, strong arm robberies…the list goes on and on. I’d be curious to see the actual stats on the number of calls for trouble in that area, especially compared to pre-Metro numbers.

Sorry, comment time is over.