West Seattle Crime Watch: Brazen burglary at Emerald Water Anglers

| Crime | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A particularly brazen business burglary tonight: Just as we were heading to Alki to find out more about tonight’s shooting, we heard from Dave McCoy, proprietor of Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, that someone had broken into his shop (42nd SW/SW Oregon). On our way back from Alki, we went by the shop to find out more. Dave told us the burglar(s) broke off the door handle and forced their way in, making off with 11 rods (that’s his photo above, showing where they had been). Though the alarm was set, that wasn’t enough to stop what apparently was akin to a smash-and-grab. The door and lock are already being repaired, as shown in our photo:

This comes just two weeks after thieves hit EWA while it was open on a Saturday afternoon, distracting an employee and stealing three reels. And it comes hours after EWA participated in the Junction Day of Giving, earmarking 10 percent of today’s proceeds for charity.

Jon May 1, 2016 (4:54 am)

Ridiculous.

It’s a well lit corner, too. They probably figured since someone can shoot off a gun just down the street without the cops noticing, why not just burglarize a store.

Here’s hoping only the worst things happen to the burglars.

cjboffoli May 1, 2016 (7:35 am)

Something tells me these people aren’t anglers. I’m wondering where they’re fencing these fly rods. Hopefully they’ll expose themselves in the process of converting the stolen merchandise to dollars.

Born on Alki 59 May 1, 2016 (8:43 am)

What brand and weight rods? Watch offer up and Craigslist. Hoping these dirtbags are caught.

Chuck May 1, 2016 (9:36 am)

Saw on a fly fishing site that these rods (as I suspected) were taken without including their protective rod tubes. Any self-suspecting fly fisher would know that any new rod without the case is stolen. Certainly these morons aren’t stealing these rods for their own use. In fact, many of the rods were ones that I’d consider at the low end of the quality range. I bet one rod is as good as another to someone looking to get $20 worth of meth or heroine.

Very sorry for the proprietors. They’ve suddenly become a target to the crap heads among us.

Chuck May 1, 2016 (9:38 am)

For BOA:

Fenwick Glass
6’6″ 3wt
7’6″ 5wt

Echo Glass
6’9″ 3wt
7’4″ 4wt
7’10” 5wt

Echo Base
7’6″ 3wt

Echo Carbon
7’3″ 2wt

Echo Boost
7’6″ 3wt

Sage Approach
7’0″ 3wt

Scott G2
8’4″ 3wt

Scott F2 Glass
7’2″ 3wt
7’7″ 4wt

Born on Alki 59 May 1, 2016 (10:23 am)

Thanks Chuck.

cliftz May 1, 2016 (6:04 pm)

sorry for your loss. I read stuff like this every year…got all that high dollar inventory, nice store front, and no security. Doors that have locks into frame and floor are more difficult to pry open. At a minimum there should be hi-def images of the perps so we can plasture them all over social media and increase the opportunity for apprehension. Maybe the shop owner will consider this in the future…cameras and wireless technology (everything going to an outside server) are inexpensive enough. Alerts to your phone so you can assess the alert and call the authorities if necessary. Your place was cased out, weaknesses exploited. Again, sorry for your loss.

KT May 1, 2016 (7:44 pm)

Would love to know the time of the alarm and the time of SPD arrival.

Aero May 2, 2016 (8:15 am)

KT- I would love to know the same. Our home alarm went off several weeks ago (luckily it was a malfunction not an actual burglar) and although ADT called the police, when I arrived home over an hour after it had started going off, no one had arrived yet. I filed a complaint with SPD and was shocked to find out they have a 3 officer minimum to respond to home alarms. There were only 3 offices on at that time (about 6pm on a Tuesday) so who knows how long it would have taken them to actually show up. I know in many other departments one or two officers can clear a home alarm call. It’s a little unnerving when you pay for a service like that and expect the police to show up if there’s an emergency.