WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray Mercedes van (update: found, but …)

| Crime | West Seattle news

From Patricia:

A dark gray Mercedes Sprinter cargo van (high top) was stolen right in front of the owner’s house in the 2300 block of Walnut Ave SW around 1 am today.

Neighbor saw a large white van type vehicle in the middle of Walnut Ave SW (not parked). Sounded like a diesel engine. Wondered if Amazon delivery, but so late. Then within literally a minute the gray van was stolen and driving down the street. Police were immediately contacted and it has been reported. Please watch for the gray Mercedes Sprinter but also beware of a very large white cargo van that is stealing vehicles quickly and quietly.

We will add the stolen van’s plate # when we get it.

TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The van’s been found, but with its contents stolen, Patricia explains in a comment below..

Marcus December 17, 2019 (8:32 pm)

Damn those vans aren’t cheap either

WSB December 17, 2019 (8:36 pm)

Got word it’s been recovered; updating….

Patricia Davis December 17, 2019 (10:36 pm)

Although the van was recovered it is penetrating what was lost. The owner is a student from WSU home for Christmas that has so little money he lives and sleeps in that Sprinter van. They took his electronic devices, the bike he needs to get to class and other items as well. If you look at the Seattle Police site of 911 calls and study what is going on: you will see this is happening widely in West Seattle. The boldness of this is unreal: the Sprinter (2008) was gone in less than 30 seconds. UPDATE: The thieves have somehow changed his Apple ID and phone number and now he can’t get into his account. All that within hours. THIS IS SERIOUS beyond just this theft. Seems they have a device that gets your car code because there was no glass broken, no messing with the ignition. They quickly got into it although it had the security (installed by Car Toys that included alarms, car horn honking, and blinking lights: none of which happened. Think of YOUR car: 30 seconds and it is gone. Watch it drive away? This loss is brutal to the student they stole from. He has less than $50 in the bank.

SillyGoose December 18, 2019 (9:39 am)

Let me share something with you many years ago there was a ring of car toys employees that made duplicates of your keys when you brought your car in for stereo installation etc. at the Tukwila location. Might be worth a visit to the location where you had this done. Were fingerprints lifted off of your vehicle upon return. Im so sorry.

dsa December 17, 2019 (11:58 pm)

30 seconds is awfully quick. I don’t understand how they could breach the Car Toys installed alarm. I mean how would they even know which brand was installed.

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