West Seattle Crime Watch: Package theft; car break-in; bag found

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes this evening:

PACKAGE-THEFT VIDEO: This reader video is from 34th and Morgan, 6:43 pm this past Thurdsay:

Two people go through a gate, come back out, enter the next one, and when they emerge, the first person is carrying something extra – which the person whose system recorded the video says is the bag delivered to their doorstep from Macy’s. Let police know if the people in the video look familiar.

CAR BREAK-IN: In Upper Fauntleroy this morning, 4 am in the 8800 block of 40th SW, a car window was broken and “some sports gear of minor value stolen.” The victim says a neighbor’s security camera recorded it (we’re asking if they have any images to share) and that the “video showed that the people who did it looked into several cars with a flashlight before breaking into ours. Definitely a good lesson to not leave anything in your car (even though in our case it was just two small bags)!”

SPEAKING OF BAGS: The person who found this one thinks it’s probably discarded loot from a home or car break-in – it wasn’t far from what’s been a burglary/car-prowl hotspot lately – so take a look:

The finder says, “My husband found this backpack in the alley behind our house. (Between 35th & 36th, Findlay & Brandon). All of the zippers were open. There are some workout clothes and shoes still in it. I know there have been quite a few break ins lately. Would love to get it back to
its proper owner.”

Eddie September 27, 2015 (6:45 pm)

How often is video realistically able to support apprehension and charging of thrives such as this.

Some members of our condo association feel that a camera system is THE answer to parcel theft issues. I’m not convinced. I think you might get some interesting pictures but will still end up with your package stolen.

tim September 27, 2015 (7:17 pm)

Agreed. Also I like the guy running right by them with his dog. Makes me wonder about getting a PO box.

Walter September 27, 2015 (9:00 pm)

I live in the same general area and I have noticed a number of different types of vans etc. that it appears people are living out of over the past few months. They usually park in the same spot for 2-3 days and then move on.

East Coast Cynic September 28, 2015 (6:53 am)

I use a Mailbox box for packages or I have them delivered to my place of work. This sort of thing has been going on for a while.

AIDM September 28, 2015 (8:11 am)

@Eddie, I don’t think its really the camera itself leading to arrest and prosecution that has efficacy. Rather, its the signs that say “This property is under video surveillance. Criminals will be vigorously prosecuted!” Similarly, a “No Soliciting” sign is a great deterrent to casing, which leads to burglary.

I Agree September 28, 2015 (9:17 am)

I 100% agree with Eddie. When my place of business was burglarized we had tons of footage. Hoodies & cell phone lights. Police had very little interest. I think these kids know that the images, no matter how clear, don’t mean a thing.

Jill September 28, 2015 (9:22 am)

@Eddie, I think these cameras can help in identifying the thieves, and sometimes the photos are really clear and much closer and you can see who it is. This particular camera is not as useful because of how it is directed at the street, which is far away. But hopefully, someone can recognize the duo – and yes, the package is still stolen!

Mark in the dark October 12, 2015 (8:30 am)

Several thousand dollars worth of tools were stolen from my garage recently including a nearly new 6 piece w/ rolling bag Makita LXT 18v cordless tool set, a suitcase type set of sockets and ratchets in metric and SAE sizes, deep and shallow, 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 “dr. sizes, a shoulder bag full of tools, including ratcheting wrenches, screwdrivers, etc., and two flat plastic organizers full of drill bits, drivers, metric taps, etc. If anyone is approached to buy these things, sees them on CL, eBay or in a pawn shop or knows of someone that magically is now in possession of some quality tools like this, please contact me here. Unfortunately, I set my HO insurance deductible at $5,000 and am now paying the price. I will pay $1,000 for information leading to their return, no questions asked.

WSB October 12, 2015 (8:41 am)

Mark, the comment section of an older story won’t get many eyeballs but if this happened in West Seattle, please e-mail us so we can include in Crime Watch – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks.

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