WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car, bicycle stolen

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight.

STOLEN CAR: Shelley says she’s been walking around hoping to spot the car ditched somewhere … it belongs to her daughter, who’s been serving in the Peace Corps. Maybe you’ll spot it:

I’ve been parking along 41st for about a year now and first, my Camry had been broken into twice and then I sold it. So, while I was inbetween cars, I decided to get my daughter’s first car all set up and running great for her return in December from the Peace Corps. I had mechanics fix quite a few things and had it running good and looking nice and then…my HUGE mistake parking it along 41st where it was outright stolen last night WITH a club locked to the steering wheel and ZERO items inside. Nothing. It is a red 1998 Honda Civic with license plates ANT5326.

We had had it stored in a driveway for the last year in Shoreline and I just thought it would be nice to get it running and up to snuff for her when she returns…and now this. It was her prized first car that she had worked hard and saved her own money for, and it was FINALLY running right. I’m just sick about it. What I’ve noticed lately is that there are way less cars all of a sudden along 41st and wonder if others have had their cars stolen? How would we know this without getting the word out. Usually this part of 41st off Edmunds Street is packed with cars and yesterday and today there were tons of open spots. No towing going on either. The police checked for me when I reported it this morning. So, it was stolen between 8 pm 8/1 and 7 am 8/2 as I had checked on it each time I walked my doggie to make sure it was fine there have been so many break-ins of late. If they only knew what they took, it’s more than a car to my daughter and I’m just sick that it was on MY watch. How could folks be so callous and selfish knowing they are taking a substantial investment from somebody they know nothing about? Anyhow, it is a longshot, but it’s a nice, clean and straight shiny red car with newer tires and a white W in the back rear window.

STOLEN BICYCLE: From Kay:

I rode my bike home from Colman swimming pool to my house (in the 9000 block of) 4th Ave SW, left bike in driveway by garage, came in to change clothes, came out to put bike into garage and it was gone. This was between 1:30 – 3 PM Monday, July 24. Bike had Danish bike basket (with carrying handle and hooks to go over handlebars). In basket was cloth bag with bike gloves, bike lights) Under seat in pouch was a red bike cable with lock. If anyone sees the black Bianchi RC women bike with the bike basket, please call 206-720-4024.

Jeannie August 3, 2017 (3:34 am)

Shelly, I am so sorry to read about the car being stolen. You were being conscientious and you wanted to surprise your daughter, who is doubtless doing good work to benefit people. It’s just infuriating that scumbags with no moral compass do this to people. I hope the car is recovered and intact.

Skeptic August 3, 2017 (9:45 am)

I’m sorry Shelly. I’ve had the same thing happen to me. My father fixed my car for me while I was living out of state so I could drive it when I returned. The day it was road ready it was stolen and never recovered. I’ve posted this before, but it bears repeating “The Club is an utterly worthless theft deterrent”. It can be removed in seconds by simply cutting through your plastic steering wheel with a hacksaw. I recommend an alarm for your daughters next vehicle. You can get one for less than $200 at Car Toys, including installation. That is a lot of peace of mind for a couple of hundred buck, and some insurance companies will reduce your premiums a bit if you have one. It may even be less than the deductible you have probably already had to pay.

Professionals will still take your car if they want it, but I have not had any prowls or thefts since I had alarms installed many years ago in all my vehicles. GTA and break-ins are so common now in Seattle that you really can’t afford not to have an alarm.

Good luck and I hope your daughter’s Civic is recovered in good condition.

Blinkyjoe August 3, 2017 (11:02 am)

So sorry Shelly!! Again, is the location on 41st between Edmunds and Hudson??

Rick August 3, 2017 (11:48 am)

One of the joys of living in a “homeless magnet sanctuary city”. A friend who stores his boat and a couple of vehicles next to Lindmark machine works under the bridge has had numerous break ins and thefts. Two days ago he was alerted to a woman pilfering new costly plumbing items off his boat (he’s restoring)and when he confronted her,was attacked and then she retreated to the safety of her base camp motor home. And we wonder why these problems occur. Really?

wendell August 3, 2017 (12:50 pm)

Non-residents leave their vehicles for days on 41st. Thieves know this, which makes it a high-prowl area for anyone that parks on that street. I hope you get your car back in one piece. Cars are often dumped there, too.

Lola August 3, 2017 (3:04 pm)

I saw that a crash over on HWY 512 early this morning was a Honda Civic that the person abandoned after they crashed. You might check to see if this was your car? I am hoping that it is not.

Chris August 3, 2017 (3:08 pm)

FYI – perhaps this will be helpful to others. As good as the steering wheel lock is for stopping some thieves, does not work for all. We have been using a lock that goes over the brake, so brakes are useless. Then we set the emergency brake and turn the wheels to the curb so car cannot be loaded onto something or towed…..we read this in the blog or police suggestion a long time ago. We got our brake lock at a key making place near Admiral Safeway a while back. Hope this helps someone.

Hoku August 3, 2017 (7:22 pm)

Having a club gives potential thieves enough time to realize my car has a manual transmission. Per a recent interaction with SPD, I learned that having a manual transmission is one of the best theft deterrents. Apparently younger folks don’t know how to drive “manuals.”

WSB August 3, 2017 (7:24 pm)

Indeed, we’ve had a couple cases where carjackings/thefts were thwarted/interrupted by the discovery it was a stick shift. (Which I never learned to drive, either, fwiw.)