WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 reader reports, and prevention advice

| Crime | West Seattle news

As mentioned earlier – when we published this story about Seattle Police trying to get recovered items backto their owners – we have reader reports to share, too:

MORE CAR PROWLS IN LA FITNESS GARAGE: From Jordan:

I wanted to pass along this story about two car break-ins at the LA Fitness parking garage that happened last night, December 13th. A buddy and I were leaving the gym and approached his car to find that his driver side window had been completely broken, along with the car next to him. Both cars had been gone through (glove boxes open, center consoles open, etc..), nothing too valuable was taken from either car.

When we went to report it to the front desk staff at LA Fitness, they said, “AGAIN!”. Which leads me to believe it has been happening quite a bit lately. Just trying to raise awareness for people who use the gym and maybe encourage the management of the building to install some security cameras in the parking garage since there is a total of zero now. With how many members the gym now has and how much the monthly dues are it seems like it would be a minimal expense to install some cameras to deter crime for their members.

We’ll be checking with corporate HQ.

CAR PROWLERS ON CAMERA: From Matthew along Fauntleroy Way:

My work vehicle was broken into this morning between 3:15 and 3:40. There were three men in two vehicles. They appear to know their trade, as they spent a good deal of time looking evidence of an alarm, and a means of deactivating it. They eventually picked the driver door, set off the alarm, had the side and rear doors opened for them and looked for anything to grab in a hurry then ran off.

A good reminder to be watchful and review good vehicle-theft-prevention practices.

PACKAGE-THEFT ALERT: From Joseph: “I’m writing to report multiple package theft in the Morgan Junction areas. Many in the area have found or reported ripped open boxes and missing packages. Specifically Willow and California west-side residences, and down Willow to Fauntleroy.”

PREVENTION ADVICE: These are exactly the type of crime that rises at this time every year. This flyer circulated to community groups has suggestions for what you can do to deter it.

scott December 14, 2016 (8:49 pm)

I don’t know why property owners resist cameras. I had two breakins at the Diamond parking lot under Safeway and they didn’t give two craps about it. I cancelled my parking there because of that so I guess they see that the cost of extra security isn’t worth the loss of business.

David December 14, 2016 (8:57 pm)

LA Fitness parking garage? Yup- cars are regularly broken into there. Mine was a few months ago. Fortunately some gym members were exiting the elevator just as the perpetrators had broken the windows- nothing stolen. LA Fitness is well aware of the problem- it has evidently been going on for many months.

Chris December 14, 2016 (9:06 pm)

Regarding the cor prowlers caught on camera – do you have a make and model of the two vehicles that those three thieves were driving?

East Coast Cynic December 14, 2016 (9:39 pm)

Instead of spending $$$ to build a ginormous police station in Northgate, lets use the $$$ for more beat cops and bait car enforcement to make it much more hazardous to steal cars in this city since bait cars have worked well in other municipalities.

and on a broader systemic level, harsher penalties and longer sentences for property crime–burglary, car theft–which from what I’m reading on this blog is pretty much of a plea down to probation sentence like the young lady featured on the WSB caught shooting heroin in a bathroom in south king county.

Mike December 15, 2016 (12:00 am)

How about we build the precinct which is needed and not spend twice that on a dump up there. Then use that money to throw away these crooks.

Morgan December 14, 2016 (9:56 pm)

Live in Morgan junction…..3 packages were reported as delivered to our home, all 3 I am sad to say are now missing, likely stolen.

susandennis December 15, 2016 (11:42 am)

I’d be very interested to hear what LA Fitness corporate has to say about the security of their members’ possessions.

My purse and phone and lock were stolen out of one of their lockers during a very small window of time. I was unpleasantly surprised at how unconcerned the gym management was. They know exactly who was there and I think it’s fair to assume that of those people, it’s likely the perp is a female and, yes, instead of even pretending to help nail which one of their members is the thief, they, instead just asked me to let them know if I found out who did it.

ChannelingLewisBlack December 15, 2016 (12:21 pm)

Kind of surprising how Darwinian the city of Seattle is towards crime in general. Seems like survival of the fittest, you’re on your own, better pack your own heat. Seems like we need 2x the force we have now to bring this back in line.

Neighbor December 15, 2016 (2:02 pm)

I get that sort of sense too. Criminals can access your property like house and car without repercussions and the ordinary citizen is out of a lot of stuff and money and greatly inconvenienced. Do our leaders expect us to live behind a fortress and be armed?

im also curious about the LA Fitness property. They are a gateway building to our neighborhood and has constant criminal activity. What is the building management doing about it?

LA member December 15, 2016 (1:05 pm)

Curious what time the LA Fitness theft occurred and if it was on P1 or P2.

Joy December 15, 2016 (8:38 pm)

I’m at the gym regularly. Robbery is so frequent that the developer/owner might need to be found negligent for not doing anything about it.

This is another classic example of lazy people not taking ownership to do anything.

Leroy December 16, 2016 (6:32 am)

That’s a good point. LA Fitness is a tenant. The building owner is responsible for common area maintenance. Parking security falls into that category.

robert j foy December 15, 2016 (8:45 pm)

we all have too step back and take a deep breath. the folks running the show for our great city of seattle were voted in by us, you know us democrats. So what is going on in our city is what we all wanted. So no matter how much we complain it is our own party that is sticking it to us . So if you are a card carrying dem everything that is going on in our city an state is a dream come true

Andy December 16, 2016 (7:54 am)

If people want something done about the proliferation of crime and the mandatory slap on the wrist punishment for those criminals caught, we have to hold our elected officials in Olympia accountable. We need tougher laws in order to lock these emboldened criminals up! With our mamby pamby Governor and so many Democrat legislators in public office, I won’t hold my breath, however. Meanwhile, I will continue to stay legally armed when out and about.

steve December 16, 2016 (8:51 am)

Mathew. What kind of camera are you using? Is the area lighted, or is that some sort of super infrared camera? For being 3:45am it looks like daylight. My van is also parked on the street, but my night video surveillance is nowhere near that clear.

NeoYogi December 19, 2016 (10:42 am)

I worked at LA Fitness for 18 months and can confirm that cars parked in the garage on both P1 and P2 are frequently broken into. Back windshields shattered, side windows. Some just vandalism, or maybe they were interrupted and didn’t have time to toss the cars. LA Fitness won’t install cameras and I don’t know if the gym management has made it a priority to encourage the building to do so. They’ve (LAF) increased the posting of signs stating they are in no way responsible. Management is focused on one thing…bringing in more members. They will do nothing until it affects their revenue. You can a) leave your car home b) park on the street or c) threaten to cancel your membership unless at least an attempt to fix the problem is set in motion. Good luck and happy holidays!

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