WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Catalytic-converter theft; car prowl; signs stolen

Three reader reports:

CATALYTIC CONVERTER STOLEN: From Maya:

I want to alert people to the fact that my Prius had its catalytic converter cut out this morning around 10:35 am at the 8400 block of Fauntleroy Place (by the one-way street near Lincoln Park). My neighbor scared off a car parts thief as they were finishing up.

They sped off, without time to close their trunk or pick up all of their things, not stopping at the stop sign.

Maya’s neighbor got the getaway car on camera but this is the only sharable frame:

CAR PROWL: From Al on Myers Way:

On 6/16/2020 my truck was broken into. The perpetrator stole everything from the inside of the vehicle, attempted to steal a tool box that was secured with a cable and lock, left and came back two hours later with a torch to cut the handles off the tool box.

Al says the thief got away in the light-colored 1992 Toyota Paseo you see him putting items into, license plate starting with BNX.

SIGNS STOLEN: From Mary in Fauntleroy:

Two signs, one Black Lives Matter, the other In Our House We Believe…. Two were also stolen from next-door neighbor and one down the hill. We live on 44th Ave SW above Endolyne Joe’s.

5 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Catalytic-converter theft; car prowl; signs stolen"

  • Chuck Jacobs June 21, 2020 (9:35 am)

    I’m sorry you had your catalytic converter stolen. It looks like you got a decent floor jack in trade though. Did they leave the handle? The value of the jack is less than the cost of repairing your car, but probably more than the scrap value which the thieves will get.

  • Cat June 21, 2020 (12:03 pm)

    The catalytic converter thieves are prolific so watch out! SPD reports almost 60 thefts in the rainier valley area in recent weeks.

  • Jeremiah Holt June 22, 2020 (7:53 am)

    My neighbor in Gatewood had his catalytic converter cut out of an older Prius a by thieves a few weeks back. They may be targeting Prii (not sure what the plural of Prius is). It costs several thousand to replace. I hear the thieves get $50 for them at the recycler.

  • Matt P June 22, 2020 (11:42 am)

    At what point to do the recyclers who keep buying stolen goods become liable?

  • joe June 25, 2020 (10:52 pm)

    This is happening all over the place because thieves are getting up to $1000 for the older Prius’s. I got a Miller CAT Cat Shield on my Prius and its helped deter thieves! Just in case you’re looking for something, don’t wait till it gets stolen! The replacement converters are over $2000 and backordered for weeks.  http://www.millercat.com/catshield.

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