West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-prowl victim gets items back; plus, recognize this bike?

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight. First one’s a followup, from Sarah:

Remember the Gibson guitar and Fender amp that were stolen out of my son’s car? They were recovered by the police after the robber tried to sell them this week at a Capitol Hill pawn shop! We had serial numbers that we had given to the police pawn shop squad (a very important step: make sure that happens so that they alert pawn shops). We are very happy and relieved! The broken car window was a $50 deductible, but all things considered, a good outcome to what had been a very no-good bad-day two weeks ago.

Second, recognize this potentially stolen-and-abandoned bicycle? Amy sent the photo:

She says it’s been parked on a sidewalk near EC Hughes Playground, and that it has a broken chain. If you recognize it, let us know – comments or editor@westseattleblog.com.

Third and final, a new round of safety advice from SPD, in the latest newsletter from Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon. Read it here as a two-page PDF.

M June 8, 2016 (9:17 am)

Does that mean they caught the creep that tried to pawn them as well?

WSB June 8, 2016 (9:36 am)

M – I asked Sarah that and while she wasn’t certain, she did think there was an arrest because they mentioned a name to her and asked if that person was someone they knew (no) and/or who might have had permission to borrow/use the items (no) – those are typical questions asked, for example, when someone is found driving a stolen car. I am going to try to follow up but have a couple cases ahead of it – TR

Sarah June 8, 2016 (2:50 pm)

Update: They just have a name of the fence and are working to track him down. Because of the high value of the stolen items it is a felony. I learned that a broken window, on the other hand, is considered just a misdemeanor, and partially accounts for the frequency of that crime. Besides us, the pawn shop is out whatever they gave the guy who fenced the goods, who may not necessarily be the actual robber. But pawn shops, by their very nature, pretty much must know they are dealing with a great deal of stolen property.