WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: ATM vandalized; stolen/found car

3:44 PM: Thanks to Desiree for the tip: That’s the drive-up Chase ATM in The Junction (44th/Edmunds), out of service after vandals hit it. Since it wasn’t taped up, she checked to make sure the Chase branch a few blocks north was aware; they told her they were, and that no cash was stolen, but that other West Seattle ATMs have been hit. We’re following up on that with police.

4:24 PM: Adding this reader report just received from Nancy:

Last night, my locked 2017 Volvo sedan was stolen from in front of my home (in the 3400 block of) 48th Ave SW. My husband’s 2002 Toyota 4 Runner was also jacked open . Inside it, Police found registrations from at least two other vehicles from nearby streets.

Today, my Volvo located in a hotel parking in Everett . The way it was located was thru Volvo dealer and my car’s “On Call” program which had ability to track my car’s position by GPS built into that.

I still haven’t seen my car because I need to figure out how to get up to Everett. It may not be driveable. But it was found all in one piece.

I had Everett Police have it towed to an Impound Lot. It will cost between $300 -$500 in fees to release it from Impound but what a joy to pay.

But I can tell you all to praise our Police. Pandemic has changed the ways crime occurs and where it occurs. Downtown Seattle is nearly empty so crime is on move.

Steve May 13, 2020 (3:53 pm)

The BECU ATM outside Admiral Safeway has been damaged as well. There should be footage from security cameras out eventually.

WSB May 13, 2020 (4:23 pm)

Thank you. Since I haven’t heard back from police yet, was hoping a little crowdsourced info might emerge.

Onion May 13, 2020 (5:04 pm)

Does it seem as if the bad guys are becoming friskier again? I guess they’re getting tired of quarantining.

WSB May 13, 2020 (7:09 pm)

Some categories up, some down.
https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Police/SeaStat/SEASTAT_2020APR29_FINAL.pdf

Deb May 13, 2020 (5:13 pm)

The WS Junction Wells Fargo ATM was smashed in also. They needed to put up a large OUT OF ORDER sign….

sf May 13, 2020 (5:15 pm)

Can someone explain the theft of registrations? I don’t get it.

Question Authority May 13, 2020 (9:22 pm)

They can serve as just another puzzle piece in the art of Identity Theft, most Postal mail stolen doesn’t have all the info listed on a Registration.
1994 May 13, 2020 (10:03 pm)

Maybe they plan to circle back to break in to the residence? I heard that was a thing at shopping mall parking lots. The crooks would break into cars and take the registration to find out where the owner lives and go break in while the owner was most likely at the shopping mall, movie theater… I carry my car registrations in my wallet, never leave it in the car.
- BlairJ May 14, 2020 (9:46 am)
  
  Since we have multiple drivers per car, I put sticky notes over most of my name, address and signature on our registration and make a color copy. This copy of the registration is kept in the car. If the police need to see the registration, they can use the bar code to verify the details, but criminals cannot make out our names or address. The police can also see the first and last characters of our names and address and compare that to our drivers licenses. I do the same thing with insurance cards.
bolo May 13, 2020 (10:06 pm)

Can’t the registration info be sold to crime rings that use it to build dossiers that can be used to open lines of credit, loans, etc. fraudulently? The registration has your full name and address. Then they can case your mailbox and steal your credit card or bank statements. What else would they need? SSN not too hard to obtain (Probably less than $1 by now). Mother’s maiden name probably out there for cheap on the internet somewhere due to a previous (Equifax?) data breach.

With that info they can register the fake sf with the IRS and hijack your tax refund.