West Seattle Crime Watch: Recognize these would-be classic-car thieves?

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports: First, off Harbor Avenue, two people tried to steal Laura‘s 1972 all-original Chevrolet Malibu Monday night/early Tuesday morning. She got this image from the building surveillance system:

Here’s what Laura found inside the car:

She continues, “They made three different passes at the car between 12 and 1 am but inevitably could not start it due to a bad carburetor. … As you can see there is substantial damage. With classic cars, even if insurance covers the cost of damage, you can’t always restore the value once something has been repaired.” She’s hoping to get clearer images from the system soon, but for now, she wanted to get the word out and warn others.

The second report is from Westwood, where another Laura reports her car was broken into:

This morning I discovered my car had been prowled in my driveway near 22nd Av SW and SW Barton. No forced entry, kids probably forgot to lock it. A red bag with a Chinese design was taken. Motion sensor lights did not deter this thief, and the dog must have slept through the whole thing.

Cd September 30, 2015 (10:38 pm)

Keep posting pics of these thugs. Post them everywhere, billboards, telephone poles, etc.

nachobeaver September 30, 2015 (11:57 pm)

did the front plate show up on camera when they pulled up in that new dodge charger?? not that the police will do anything!!

Eric October 1, 2015 (3:47 am)

These self entitled POS are a waste of space. I go to work about 3:30 am and I always see young punks riding bikes with hoodies on, wearing backpacks, slowly cruising by parked cars as I drive through the Highland Park area. When they see me approaching they speed away.

HelperMonkey October 1, 2015 (8:17 am)

Someone needs to make a better quality surveillance camera. Seriously.

WSB October 1, 2015 (8:25 am)

HM, it’s not the system – I guess I could have explained further, this is what Laura got by recording the playback with her phone, as the direct video has not yet been accessible, older system (belongs to the building, not to her) or something like that.

ohboy October 1, 2015 (8:34 am)

@eric:you are so right! The POS’s When Caught Need To Have Their Picture Posted Large On BILLBOARDS APTS LOBBY, CONDOS, RESTURANTS To Name A Few! So Sick If these POS garbage.

mrsMarty October 1, 2015 (8:35 am)

To both Laura’s…wow this sucks big time! But all I can say is thank goodness for a bad running car!

themightyrabbit October 1, 2015 (9:37 am)

Full hi definition 720p and 1080p cameras are readily available for surveillance purposes, there’s a place on 4th Ave across from Costco that sells them, I have some, very reasonable. But it’s up to the apartment complex to decide whether to splurge.

Ken October 1, 2015 (10:58 am)

Laura, I have admired your car often as I’ve driven by down the road. That’s a really nice Chevelle! Have you thought of adding a kill switch to the starter and a club to the wheel. I do suggest both.

Truthteller October 1, 2015 (1:18 pm)

My daughters car was broken into on the corner of Hinds and Belvidere 3 weeks ago. The thieves took all her clothes she had in the trunk (she was in the process of moving home) and several other personal items. They left a house key on a cartoon key fob. Probably took it from someone else. I didn’t file a report……it doesn’t ever change anything as this has .been going on for years here.

WSB October 1, 2015 (2:03 pm)

Truthteller, yes, reports do change things. Glacially maybe but they’re important to file. Police *do* make arrests – and trace stuff back to its owner. They make the case for more officers (we have far fewer here than I think most believe we have, but some hiring is happening, again, albeit slowly). I wish we had more access to information about arrests as well as the initial incidents, but the SPD information system is imperfect … so that’s why we ask for people to share information with us, once it’s been reported to police. – TR

Chuck and Sally's Van Man October 1, 2015 (1:48 pm)

So what’s the purpose of stealing an old original car like this? Drive it as your own, ship it overseas to some crappy buyer pulling the strings here, or just for parts or even metal recycling? Seems like a highly risky lift given how recognizable it would be on the streets. Insights welcomed.

mrsMarty October 1, 2015 (6:49 pm)

Why in the heck is the steering column so destroyed and isn’t the ignition on the right side where most of the damage looks to be on the left side???? I know they were trying to hot wire it but geez so much damage…on TV you just use a screw driver don’t you??? LOL!

Laura sorry your car got so damaged