West Seattle Crime Watch: Dumping, recorded; car prowl; tools stolen here turn up online – and then in Burien

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

RECOGNIZE THOSE BENCHES? If you do – you might be able to solve a case of illegal dumping that happened around 10:30 pm Saturday night in Westwood, on 24th SW near Thistle. Dumping is a problem in more than a few spots around West Seattle, but this time a surveillance camera caught it happening:

The camera’s owner says, “I’ve reported a lot of dumping and graffiti in the neighborhood but first time we recorded dumping live. … It’s about the 4th time dumping has occurred in that exact spot on our lot in the last 9 years.” If you have any information that might help track down the dumpers – the video’s been provided to police, too – contact them and refer to case #15-447815.

Also from the WSB inbox:

CAR PROWL: From Jeremiah in Gatewood, at 39th SW and SW Orchard:

Our Honda Element which we leave virtually empty and unlocked was gone through last night. The glove box was left open and papers were everywhere. Nothing of value is ever left in the car. It looks like several other cars on the block were hit.

STOLEN ITEMS RECOVERED: One night earlier, Collin‘s cargo trailer was broken into in the 5400 block of 48th SW, and tools were stolen. Hours later, they got some of them back, and he says this is how it happened: His wife Amber mentioned the theft on Facebook, and got a message that tools resembling theirs were spotted on OfferUp – someone in Burien was trying to sell them. Collin and Amber went to a Burien Police station and in the meantime managed to arrange to meet the sellers to see if they could identify their tools before officers moved in – Collin says they wanted to meet up in a public place but the sellers invited them to their house instead. With police following, they headed over. Almost instantly, he was shown his own pressure washer – which even had his surname written on the bottom. He relayed a message to his wife outside to have police move in, and they did. He’s not sure whether they made arrests or are compiling evidence for a wider investigation, “but all in all we recovered more than probably 99.9% of the people ever burglarized.”

West Seattle Hipster December 28, 2015 (4:55 pm)

I hope the big guy hurt his back for lifting improperly.

Justin December 28, 2015 (6:17 pm)

Nice going, Collin and Amber! Thanks for making sure the culprits were caught red-handed. I’m sure that was a stressful and difficult situation to be in.

35 years in West Seattle December 28, 2015 (7:06 pm)

Many cites offer once a year ‘ pick-up day ‘ where they allow folks to drag big loads to the curb.
Seattle chooses to spend more on ‘dumping enforcement/apprehension ‘ than providing services.

PROOF: Money hungry cities provide few services.

Feel more like a revenue source than a citizen lately ?

JanS December 28, 2015 (9:10 pm)

Pigs…they can afford that big truck, but not a dump fee? Seriously?

Jon Wright December 28, 2015 (9:22 pm)

Yes, these look like the sort of law-abiding fellows who would save their detritus for an annual “pick-up-day.”

ELLY December 28, 2015 (9:49 pm)

35 years in West Seattle: you can take bigger stuff to the curb any garbage day, and if they won’t take it they give specific instructions what to do on the website.

http://www.seattle.gov/Util/MyServices/Garbage/index.htm

Don’t make excuses for these losers. They are only victims of their own laziness.

AMD December 28, 2015 (10:46 pm)

There are a ton of freecycling events and programs around the city and unincorporated King County as well. Many of these are run by the county Solid Waste Division.
.
The county and other organizations do plenty to offer legal (not to mention eco-friendly) options for disposing of odd items. This is a case of someone who doesn’t care.

FreGirl December 29, 2015 (12:03 am)

I’m sick of our neighbors up and down the alley between Andover and Dakota on California throwing all their crap by the side of the alley. Just letting it pile up year after year and look like crap. And, BOTH of the offenders appear to have trucks. Like, really? Thanks for making it look trashy around here folks.

EJS December 29, 2015 (1:50 am)

I bet they didn’t see the camera. But the way the truck door opens shows that they are modfiycation to the door. It shouldn’t be hard to find that truck. When you catch them they should do community clean up.

DubC December 29, 2015 (8:56 am)

We have a huge dumping problem over by Sanislo Elementary. It’s amazing the things people dump there. Most of it is furniture, TVs, etc., but sometimes there are things that can go in any recycling bin. It’s shocking how people put more effort into littering our neighborhood than it would take to properly dispose of these things. Sanislo even has multiple signs saying no dumping, which only seems to invite more dumping. Sad that people care so little about keeping the place they live nice and clean!

steve December 29, 2015 (10:32 am)

This is the result when it’s too expensive to go to the dump. I’m not saying this is right. As another poster says, many other cities have days where you can take bulky items to the curb and they get picked up. In one state I know, you can put things out (any size) every two weeks, and it’s free. For some people, a $35 dump trip minimum is a lot of money. The result, things get dumped on the street.
A couple months ago someone left 6 tires in my yard.
I suggest writing city council and requesting some changes. I think it’s only going to get worse.

themightyrabbit December 29, 2015 (11:46 am)

But the way the truck door opens shows that they are modfiycation to the door.”

Actually no it looks like that, but it’s due to the angle of the camera.

m December 29, 2015 (12:04 pm)

I heard the Meyers Way landfill doesn’t charge a dump fee either.

julie December 29, 2015 (1:05 pm)

I would give my eye teeth for those benches, for my Bonsai collection.

JanS December 29, 2015 (1:58 pm)

Dear Steve….did you see that truck? Do you know what a truck like that costs? If they can afford that, they can afford a damned $35 dump fee. Or share it…17.50 each…not too much more than a rack of their fave beer ! Don’t make excuses for these sorry people !

RayWest December 29, 2015 (4:17 pm)

This is so maddening that people do this. Early this year someone left a beat-up 1960s era sofa on my back concrete parking area, and then put a hand-written “Free” sign on it. The nerve of people.

unknown December 29, 2015 (5:15 pm)

We just took a utility trailer full of junk to the Transfer Station the weight was about 880 lbs and it cost us 59.00 and some change. It’s not cheap but come on keep it off the streets, be proud of your neighborhood and keep it looking like your proud of it!

Kravitz December 29, 2015 (8:28 pm)

If you can live in Seattle, drive a truck like that, you can sure as hell pay to dispose of your crap properly at the transfer station. I hope they’re caught and fined… and I hope they also suffered a herniated disc or two in the process of their illegal dump. Seriously, what is wrong with society these days? How have we become so selfish and lazy, with a blatant disregard for our neighbors and the communities in which we live?

Bear December 30, 2015 (10:31 am)

Yes. It is wrong to dump illegally! It is also wrong to wish harm on people regardless of there illegal dumping!

pjmanley January 4, 2016 (2:17 pm)

Please, please, please stop excusing these law-breakers. Your enabling of this behavior makes it spread like wildfire. You know the old saying, Excuses are like ***holes; Everybody’s got one. People should be encouraged to be self-reliant and solve their own problems, not dump them onto others or the community at large. There’s no question these dumpers can afford the fees. None at all. Stop playing the poverty card.