WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: ATM stolen from bank drive-thru; thwarted package theft on video

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BANK INVESTIGATION: We’re still working to get details on a pre-dawn police investigation at US Bank in The Junction. After a texted tip that SW Edmunds was blocked off there, we found police putting a small forklift-type vehicle on a flatbed tow truck (top photo). They declined to elaborate on the investigation; we went back later and noted that the drive-up ATM is gone, with debris in view along with severed wires, and even what appeared to be a scorch mark on the pavement:

Whether it was stolen, removed after a theft attempt, or some other circumstance, we don’t know yet. One bystander said he noticed police there as early as 5:45 am. We’ll add whatever more we find out – but in the meantime, if you need a US Bank ATM, you won’t find one at the Junction drive-thru.

ADDED 2:16 PM: One more clue – the call is classified as “theft.”

ADDED 5:23 PM: Police confirm the ATM was stolen, and the forklift was used in the crime. No further details likely until we can seek the incident report Monday.

(back to original story) Also in Crime Watch:

PACKAGE THEFT THWARTED: This happened Thursday afternoon in Riverview – caught on security-cam video that was texted to us:

If you have any information on the would-be thief/vehicle, let SPD know and refer to case number 2017-023139.

Chris January 22, 2017 (12:22 pm)

Wow that thwarted theft of package was something. Plus a pic of the vehicle and the person taking the package. Looks like a good amount of info to go on for the police.

Will also be interested to see what hear about ATM.

verdant January 22, 2017 (2:34 pm)

Nice save on the package, wow.

Oakley34 January 22, 2017 (3:34 pm)

Wow that guy showed some serious restraint. Good for him. It would not be right (or might not be right) but in the anger of the moment I’d have done something stupid, like at least kick the car (and earn a sore foot) or try to tackle the thief and just escalate the situation.

Abraham Spencer January 22, 2017 (4:38 pm)

i love the package theft thwart…….this house is right down the street from mine.

I got a package stole couple months ago………looking out for that green Jeep

Al January 22, 2017 (4:41 pm)

To bad the owner did not catch the person. The truck will be found

Double Dub Resident January 22, 2017 (5:42 pm)

This is like the 3rd ATM stolen using a forklift in about a month

WSB January 22, 2017 (5:48 pm)

That’s what else I’m looking into tomorrow. I don’t believe any have happened in WS recently but we’ve certainly had some ATM thefts – such as the one pulled out of an SSC building and discovered in an Arbor Heights yard last May.

Double Dub Resident January 22, 2017 (5:47 pm)

I’m so tired of these worthless self entitled POS! If you want things, get a job, save up for it and buy it! Quit taking what isn’t yours!! 6

lookingforlogic January 23, 2017 (9:34 am)

Theft is their chosen profession.

Jethro Marx January 22, 2017 (8:20 pm)

Not a Jeep, methinks; ought to be a Mitsubishi Montero from the middle 1990s. I think the thief was foiled by the split-second delay caused by the package bumping into the bench. Also, maybe one the few times when throwing an f-bomb in there actually helped. Like the bible says, to everything, there is a season.

Anonymous Coward January 23, 2017 (8:06 am)

Nope. 1993-1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ Country (4dr 4×4)

PinehurstPete January 22, 2017 (8:20 pm)

Sounds like they caught the ATM robbers after a lengthy pursuit earlier this afternoon. WSP spotted a box truck and began following with SPD joining in. Pursuit started in SoDo and ended in North Seattle near Lake City Way. Two suspects were taking into custody and an ATM was recovered from the back of the box truck. What’s weird though is that there has been no mention of this yet in the media (that I can find). You never know what you’ll hear on the KOMO scanner!

WSB January 22, 2017 (8:44 pm)

We have a hardware scanner. I heard some traffic that sounded a bit like what you mention, earlier, but it was outside this area and we have no confirmation so far whether it’s related, or not. As DD mentioned upthread, there’ve been other thefts. Re: no media mention of that here or elsewhere – it’s not really as weird as you think – getting information on weekends is phenomenally difficult, especially if it’s not something involving life and limb (homicide, shooting, etc.); it took me a lot just to confirm that this was a theft (tried reaching media relations, tried going to the precinct, finally got a bit of info via e-mail), and I don’t know when we would have found out about it at all if not for the one person who kindly texted us at 7 am after seeing Edmunds taped off by ex-Shelby’s. Tips are everything – so much does *not* emerge on the scanner no matter how closely you listen. Much of the police reporting you see in citywide outlets is because SPD decided to put something on its “blotter” blog-format website – but only a few incidents get written up there, depending on what else the folks in media relations are tasked with working on … TR

Alki Resident January 22, 2017 (8:23 pm)

So I’m thinking had the package victim done exactly what he did, then blasted pepper spray into the jeep, both passenger and driver would’ve been blinded and then exited the vehicle at which point they’d be arrested. I’m so sick of these stories.

neighbor January 23, 2017 (8:41 am)

Arrested by whom? Do you have police officers just standing around on your street waiting to arrest people? Because I certainly don’t. If pepper spray was released into the vehicle as you recommended, the thieves would more likely still try to drive away, endangering everyone on the road. Even if they did stop, there’s no one to arrest them, and who knows if they had a weapon, what could have happened.

I hate package thieves too, and I’m glad this man thwarted them. But I don’t want anyone to escalate an interaction into something dangerous over a simple Amazon box. It’s just not worth it.

Shepherd Siegel January 22, 2017 (8:31 pm)

The nearest US Bank ATM is at the Starbucks Center in SoDo (Lander and 1st). Here is the link to other locations https://www.usbank.com/locations/locator-results.html?stringquery=98116&branch=y&atm=y 

Jeannie January 22, 2017 (9:22 pm)

I agree with Jethro Marx. “Hey, can I f-cking help you?!” was the perfect reaction. Glad that the thief creep dropped the package.

Mark January 22, 2017 (10:58 pm)

I live in North Seattle off of Lake City Way in Victory Heights. The truck was ditched directly in front of my house, and I can confirm that two suspects were apprehended. SPD told me that 3 suspects were involved in the theft, so they brought the K9 unit in, but no scent of anyone else. There was a news team on the scene, but haven’t seen anything published yet.

Mark January 22, 2017 (11:00 pm)

To clarify, this was with reference to the ATM machine – the officers opened the back and said, “Merry Christmas!” I think there have been about 12-13 stolen since November 1.
- WSB January 22, 2017 (11:14 pm)
  
  Thanks for including a pic. Could come in handy when we get followup info, if the WS ATM was among them.
  The recent ones that were reported on SPD Blotter were in late December:
  http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2016/12/30/damage-and-attempt-theft-of-atm-in-ballard-another-stolen-forklift-found-at-scene/
  http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2016/12/25/early-morning-theft-of-forklift-attempt-theft-of-atm-on-aurora/
- JanS January 22, 2017 (11:15 pm)
  
  so, if the 3rd guy is MIA…looks like he’s not getting his cut…too bad…. or as I’m wont to say…TFB

Kay K January 23, 2017 (8:13 am)

Nice job Riverview neighbor. We walk there all the time, and will keep an eye out for the Mitsubishi.

Jethro Marx January 23, 2017 (11:48 am)

Actually the other guy is right; it’s a Jeep Cherokee. This package thieving is a curious gig; what do they do with the contents? Do the pawnshops buy breastfeeding accessories, phone chargers, and vacuum bags? Is there a section on Amazon where you can sell grab-bags of previously purchased items which have made their way back to the marketplace? We need some of you alternative entrepreneurs cruising our neighborhood in Jeep Cherokees to chime in here!
- bolo January 23, 2017 (5:24 pm)
  
  Sorry, not an “alternative entrepenuer” here but my take on it is they play the odds. My numbers here are purely imaginary, but it goes something like this: Odds are like 1 in 100 they could snag a “jackpot” like maybe some electronic equipment, against odds like 1 in 1,000s that they get caught.
  
  In other words, the odds of getting something good are way better than the odds of getting caught.
  
  We calculate these risks numerous times each day without thinking about it. Crossing the street, for example, can be dangerous, even deadly. Yet we do it, because we figure the danger risk is low enough that it is far outweighed by the benefit we get.

wsea98116 January 23, 2017 (11:54 am)

Best package theft vid ever! She doesn’t seem like a pro- she’s carrying her huge purse? Probably can’t leave it in the car, because her accomplice might steal it.

re:ATM- is the forklift stolen? Seems like forklift is costly theft expense ?

sun*e January 23, 2017 (12:12 pm)

WOW! Such bold thieves!

sun*e January 23, 2017 (12:18 pm)

Here’s the guy that stole our Christmas packages this past December. Wish I could’ve caught him in the act!

sun*e January 23, 2017 (12:25 pm)

Oh and, that ATM is at my bank! SHEEESH!

Cerrutta January 23, 2017 (12:39 pm)

Dang proud of you, Riverview Park man. I walk by your home often with my dog and you have such a lovely home and well-kept yard. Hoping you were able to get the plate #? I live near by and had my home ransacked 2 years ago. My sense of security is forever destroyed. So glad you stood up to that POS robber!

John January 23, 2017 (12:52 pm)

Are you telling me he didn’t get a license plate number???

Jerald January 23, 2017 (1:10 pm)

I wonder, too, how they cash in on the amazing variety of things that are delivered these days. We often order instant oatmeal, for instance.

dsa January 23, 2017 (2:46 pm)

Is an ATM theft large enough to be a felony? By the looks of the dripping white paint on the side it looks like they stole the truck too. But possession of the ATM is key from what I understand from other cases.

rob January 23, 2017 (7:30 pm)

that package thing well i hate to say it looked so fake i mean thats the worst acting ive ever seen. What are the chances of all that going down like it was rehearsed

WSB January 23, 2017 (8:10 pm)

A police report was filed (we verified that). Filing a false report is a crime and there really wouldn’t be much point of committing a crime just to create this clip.

lovewestseattle January 25, 2017 (3:56 pm)

fffffin scum thieves!!! That woman was wearing her purse to make herself look more normal until she showed her real scum self.. Riverpark man, you rock!!! I hope nobody ever messes with you again!

Sorry, comment time is over.