West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-prowl alert

Avery sent this warning for neighbors who park on Delridge Way SW, particularly in the 5400 block:

Just wanted to get the word out that my car was broken into last night or this morning (1/27-1/28) from where it was parked in front of the Delridge Branch Library. It seemed like they tried to steal the whole car, since the ignition was broken into, but they were unable to.

My checkbook was stolen along with some change, and my car was left disabled. It could have been a lot worse, but residents along that block should take extra care with their cars parked on the street.

Avery had to arrange to have it towed for repair.

P.S. Crime stats for the year are in the newest SeaStat briefing from which Seattle Police has released some numbers. Citywide, car prowls were down last year – 13,695 in 2015, compared to 15,351 the year before. (Precinct breakouts were not included.)

10 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-prowl alert"

  • South Park Sassy January 28, 2016 (8:22 pm)

    Is it that car prowls are down or that people don’t bother to report them.  My car has been broken into 3 times in the 4 months I’ve lived here…all unreported as I doubt cops would spend a lot of time tracking down a guy that stole some spare change and perfume.

    • WSB January 28, 2016 (8:50 pm)

      PLEASE report them. If nothing else, so the stats are accurate.

  • South Park Sassy January 28, 2016 (9:22 pm)

    I will report them from now on.

  • TheKing January 29, 2016 (1:53 am)

    I only file a police report if the loss is over a thousand dollars for tax claims, otherwise I don’t bother. The police have better things to do and I feel like my report goes off into the electronic abyss anyway. 

    • Lindsey January 29, 2016 (9:44 am)

      The electronic abyss is worth something though. It gives the police an accurate representation of crime happening in Delridge so they can allot the proper resources. To get more resources, we have to be reporting all the crimes.

  • DelridgeResident January 29, 2016 (8:27 am)

    I am so sorry that your car was damaged.  Note to anyone who parks in an unsecured street or driveway spot…….DO NOT leave valuables in your car.  No money, no checkbooks, no passports, nothing!  Even if your car gets broken into, they won’t get anything if nothing is left in the car.  Registration and insurance verification  should be the only items left in the car.   Make it your pleasure to even leave some worthless garbage around and get the satisfaction that they went to all the effort to break in and all they found was a snotty tissue.

    • Rick January 29, 2016 (8:42 am)

      Don’t even leave the snotty tissue visible.  It’snot(haha) worth the expense of the repairs. Or just leave it unlocked. When I had convertibles I never locked them. A new top is pretty pricey.

      • datamuse January 29, 2016 (8:49 am)

        A friend of mine used to leave her Miata unlocked and someone still slashed the roof to get inside. Either it never occurred to them to try the door, or they were just @*&$^&@s.

        • Rick January 29, 2016 (10:25 am)

          Probably both.

  • T.C. January 29, 2016 (11:09 am)

    Southwest Precinct breakout of car prowls for 2015 can be viewed here:

    http://public.tableau.com/shared/WCYM675S3?:display_count=yes&:showVizHome=no

    You can also, filter by neighborhood/crime type here:

    http://www.seattle.gov/seattle-police-department/crime-data/crime-dashboard

Sorry, comment time is over.