WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Treasure-chest thief; hit-run fence-crasher

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reports with video – first, from Mara, the case of the treasure-chest thief:

That’s the treasure chest that was stolen, a kids’ project in a Seaview yard. The theft was recorded on security video:

Mara explains, “It was something they created during COVID as a share place for kids … it was a big chest from the ’70s. It had a lot of sentimental value.” This happened late Monday night.

Also on video – the case of the fence-crasher:

Heather sent the video and explains: “We’re looking for help locating this vehicle. They ran through the fence never braking. We’re all lucky no one was on the other side of the fence as we all have kids and animals. This person needs to not be driving! Plates can’t be made out but it’s a very distinguishable vehicle. SPD case is 2020-185756.” This happened Tuesday morning near Fairmount Playfield.

valvashon June 11, 2020 (7:10 pm)

For what it’s worth, that is a 1990-1993 Ford Festiva, a subcompact designed by Mazda and built by Kia. These were tiny, bare bones cars and there can’t be that many left out there. Especially in that shade of blue.

Heather June 11, 2020 (8:23 pm)

That’s kinda what we’ve determined. There has to be only a handful of those in that color in the entire state.
- Elton June 12, 2020 (9:46 am)
  
  As an outside observer, appreciate the “My Cousin Vinny”-esque sleuthing here :) I very much home the culprit is found for the safety of you and your neighbors.

heartless June 11, 2020 (7:25 pm)

Is it a full moon or something? What lunatics. I’m so sorry about the chest, and that’s really scary about the fence. I hope both come to a good resolution.

cjboffoli June 11, 2020 (8:18 pm)

The lowlife who stole the treasure chest was probably pretty disappointed to discover later than all of those gold doubloons were actually made of chocolate.

Marie June 11, 2020 (9:08 pm)

Could this be the same car?

WSB June 11, 2020 (9:30 pm)

Before you posted that, someone sent us this note, so likely so: “The car is a Ford Festiva, built from the late 1980’s until the early 1990’s. SPD detectives must know this, but just in case they don’t, I’m passing this along to you. The Festiva was an inexpensive, Korean built, economy car sold by Ford that, while really not that bad a car, was never really very popular, and I can’t imagine that in all of King County there could me more than a dozen or so still on the road. Because the bumpers appear to be black, and not painted the same color as the rest of the car, I’m guessing it is one the ’80s years.”
mok4315 June 11, 2020 (9:52 pm)

Looks like the same car but can’t be, right? It was towed Monday 6/8, and the above video from Heather is from Tuesday morning. Still, can’t be too many of these around…
- Heather June 11, 2020 (10:04 pm)
  
  It could be. My days are messed up! I have not clue what any day is. This is from my neighbors camera. The car looks the same. But in the video it looks like an older person who we assumed was confused. Not to say that an elderly person can’t be involved in a car theft it just seems more logical that it is a younger person. And a stolen Ford Festiva! I guess it could happen. ;). I’ll give the info to SPD. TY!
Blankman June 16, 2020 (2:14 pm)

I noticed the fence crasher had a black outer front rim same as the car abandoned in the comments. Its the same car.

Marianne June 11, 2020 (10:22 pm)

I think the treasure chest thief was blown backwards by the curse he released into his own face when he opened the chest.

Mok4315 June 11, 2020 (11:06 pm)

Haha, that’s exactly what it looked like! Now he’ll pick bad avocados and forget every login password he’ll ever make for the rest of his life.
- nonni June 12, 2020 (9:23 am)
  
  Cut the jerk some slack. He’s just an unemployed Seafair Pirate, down on his luck.

Karma Police June 12, 2020 (6:31 am)

Yarrrg! Cursed to forever haunt Seaview.- A headless pirate shackled to a chest of stolen toys…

Meeee June 12, 2020 (6:32 am)

If SPD cared to follow the fence case up, they can easily run a couple DOL queries with the make, model, and range of years to see what comes back. They can even narrow it by color.I doubt they will though as a property damage only (no injuries) hit and run will not normally be followed up.They also have the technology to enhance that video to a point they could potentially get a better shot of the license plate.

John June 12, 2020 (11:11 am)

SPD’s likelihood of following up on that brings to mind The Dudes car in”The Big Lebowski”.My friend Sean has had his 96 honda wagon stolen four times. The second to last time SPD called him to inform Sean his car was abandoned in the Red ‘No Parking Zone’ at OLG’s Colorful Playschool on 34th. The SPD officer made a ‘courtesy call’ to Sean who had earlier reported the car theft to SPD. The officer informed Sean that the “tow truck is on its way” and if Sean did not arrive in time his car would be impounded with all of the associated towing and storage costs born by Sean. Sean successfully scrambled a ride from his North Admiral residence and arrived to see his car’s seats had been flattened and the car was over-stuffed with a crated large brand-new bath tub. On top of the roof carrier of the honda accord was a brand-new crated and newly broken large exterior glass-pane door. The shattered door glass was everywhere.Absolutely bewildered, Sean asked the officer the obvious, “What am I supposed to do with this stolen stuff?”The SPD officer replied, “That’s your problem, you need to move your car.”I live a few blocks away, and Sean, still astonished, drove to my home. We examined the shipping tags attached to the wooden crates and followed online sourcing the customer. It turned out to be from a West Seattle construction site. We contacted the contractor who retrieved the door and tub from Sean the next day.—Last month Sean again had his beloved 96 Accord wgn stolen. Breaking the West Seattle abandonment norm, someone drove and abandoned it in South Holly. The increasing distance of retrieval this time occasioned Sean to finally purchase and use a Club device.
As of yesterday, so far so good.

john June 12, 2020 (2:17 pm)

Maybe unidirectional transmission?

valvashon June 12, 2020 (2:36 pm)

For the record, the car in the Nextdoor post is a post-facelift Festiva; the “Ford” oval is surrounded by the plastic grille instead of being just a bump in the middle bar. It’s a 1990-1993 model. Base models of this car had black bumpers.

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