@ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Shoplifting crackdown; precinct’s fall events…

| Crime | Safety | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

No special guest at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, so it was a shorter-than-usual meeting devoted to police updates and community concerns.

WESTWOOD VILLAGE EMPHASIS: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis said there’s a police team focused on Westwood Village shoplifting, which had been previously mentioned as a chronic/increasing problem. As part of the WW focus, they’re also working with Metro regarding use of the C Line to get to and from the area to commit crimes.

PROPERTY CRIME OVERALL: In all, Capt. Davis said the general idea is to keep working on tactics to stop the same types of crime from happening again and again and again. That’s why they’ve ramped up early for not only shoplifting but also for package theft. Overall, they’re seeing a five percent drop, and continuing to work to arrest key suspects – often, repeat offenders well-known to police – and to work with prosecutors to get longer sentences for them.

MYERS WAY: This came up as a community concern, but most of the questions involved jurisdictional issues – city, county, state. (As shown on city maps, both sides of the road are in the city limits up until SW 100th.)

DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY: As announced earlier this week, the next twice-yearly Drug Take-Back Day at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster) will be Saturday, October 28th, 10 am-2 pm – bring your no-longer-needed/expired/etc. medications for dropoff, no questions asked.

SPD AT WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL: The day after that, you’ll see SPD participating in the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th – crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Burbridge is working on the activity plan.

SPD HORSES IN WEST SEATTLE? Though SPD’s Mounted Patrol is based at Westcrest Park in West Seattle, their primary area of duty is in the West Precinct – big crowd events downtown, Capitol Hill, etc. However, you might see them in West Seattle during the holiday season, Operations Lt. Ron Smith told the WSCPC.

The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets third Tuesdays most months, 7 pm at the precinct.

j October 19, 2017 (9:16 am)

An officer just told me that they were so bogged down with felony theft cases that they raised the limit a person could steal before being a felon. You used to get a felony by stealing goods over $500. Now it is a misdemeanor up to $1000. Brilliant!

I wonder why theft has gone up?

Another Savant policy? Don’t want to give those nice people felonies???

WSB October 19, 2017 (9:27 am)

I don’t know what you are referring to – there have NOT been any recent changes in the law, and those are NOT city laws so whatever politician you want to blame things on, city councilmembers have nothing to do with what’s felony theft and what’s not – those are state laws. Third-degree theft, a gross misdemeanor, has a $750 baseline and has, according to the state’s online info, since at least 2009 (maybe longer, I don’t have time to read all the fine print, but that’s the last time the law was amended).

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.56.050

Erithan October 19, 2017 (11:09 am)

Still no mention of issues in Alaska junction area?=(

Community team never returned my call. *sigh* (pardon bold the box to type in is acting up again, iPhone)

WSB October 19, 2017 (11:13 am)

Someone has to be there to ask about them. WSCPC is really *one* hardworking volunteer, plus whomever shows up to the meeting. I know you’ve said you have challenges in getting to a meeting but maybe send someone from your building? Or management? Sorry to hear CPT hasn’t called back. One more person to try would be crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer – jennifer.burbridge@seattle.gov – even if just to say, CPT hasn’t gotten back to you and does she have any suggestions? She is a civilian employee but definitely dedicated to her gig.
SWCPC October 19, 2017 (12:47 pm)

I’m so sorry to hear that no one from the Community Policing Team has gotten back to you. Please feel free to email me at Jennifer.Burbridge@seattle.gov or call me at (206) 256-6820. I would be happy to discuss your concerns with you!
- Erithan October 19, 2017 (1:28 pm)
  
  Thank you both(abs the following is just an observation).
  
  bit surprised there isn’t more attention as is, mostly due to having spoken to other buildings,shop owners etc who are feeling just as helpless and or frustrated. (Sadly due to our building type management could care less, it’s “live here and shut up or move, and they know we can’t).
  
  thank you again for relying here, I do realize things are busy of course too, will reach out via email as soon as I’m able.
  
  Should say replying rather then relying(can’t edit on phone right now)

Sorry, comment time is over.