WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Admiral smash-and-grab

| Crime | West Seattle news

The photo is from Skylar, who reports a smash-and-grab near 41st SW/SW Admiral Way this afternoon:

I came out from work and was greeted by my passenger-side back window being smashed and my bag stolen. It was an olive green Tumi bag, with a pair of Lululemon leggings, a Northern Exposure sweatshirt with mooses on it, a pair of Nike Air Max plus/97’s, and other miscellaneous items in it. The value of the bag is pretty high and I don’t expect to get it back, I just want others to be aware that this is happening in the area.

But if you do happen to find any such items discarded – let us know.

Mike March 29, 2018 (7:01 am)

Hopefully somebody has security cams that caught it.

Right March 29, 2018 (9:19 am)

A lot of good that would do..

monroe1200 March 29, 2018 (8:18 am)

I’m not victim blaming, but we can not be surprised anymore when we leave items in our cars that can be seen from the windows. Do not give them a reason to break-in, hide your belongings people!! They are not upstanding citizens, they are criminals and they do not care about other people. It’s horrible that we have to think and live like this, but it’s the reality of our times. I don’t even leave pennies in the console, they will break-in for the smallest things. Hope you get your bag back.

WSB March 29, 2018 (11:01 am)

One VERY important point needs to be made here. It’s not a matter of whether there’s something in your car that can be seen from the windows. I don’t know about this incident but in at least one recent smash-and-grab we reported, the stolen item was NOT visible. Car prowlers break in on spec, not just if something is visible. This, we also know firsthand, as our cars have been prowled repeatedly with nothing in view and only an out-of-view charging cord inside – which of course was taken. Also please note that this does happen in “broad daylight” – if you wonder “didn’t somebody see something?”, thieves are expert at inconspicuously and quickly getting into cars. – TR

Ann Smith March 29, 2018 (9:56 am)

Exactly why you don’t ever leave anything visible in your car. Always at least put it in your trunk. If you leave stuff in your car, you are basically asking for your window to be smashed, no matter where you live. Speaking from personal experience, took three smashed windows before I learned and have never had that problem again.

Skylar March 30, 2018 (6:53 am)

Hello Ann,

Thank you for your advice. Yes, I have learned my lesson. I have parked my car on that street for the past 6 years and have never had an issue, so I’m sure you can understand why I would never have assumed my window would have been smashed. My bag was also not visible from the street. I have gone over a million times in my head about how much safer I should have been with my belongings. We all make mistakes. Like I said in my post, my intention is not to get my stuff back, but to warn others that this is happening in the area.

MJ March 29, 2018 (11:16 am)

It’s time for the City to stop coddling these criminals. I for one want to see the City start an aggressive policy on catching, arresting and making these criminals pay for their crime.

Restitution is also needed, it is blatantly unjust for an innocent party to pay to fix a smashed window, make the perpetrator pay!

Last summer I was assaulted at my door step, and the perp was found but not arrested, this is BS and is in my opinion one of the reasons these criminals continue to victimize people throughout the City. They have no fear of prosecution!

AlkiGuy March 30, 2018 (3:34 pm)

Ann Smith. Putting things in your trunk is also risky. Been many stories in the news over the years of people doing that and getting broken into. The reason: crooks were sitting in their car’s watching. They could see the items going in the trunk which told them exactly what they’d get. A friend of mine, after being broken into twice decided he’d just leave his car unlocked. Yep-the crook didn’t check the door-broke the window 1st.