WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 4 bicycles – 2 stolen, 2 abandoned

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Update) 4 reader reports about bicycles, starting with two thefts:

SOUTH MORGAN JUNCTION THEFT: From Michael:

It was stolen sometime in the last 7 days from the garage of a condo building of the 6900 block of California Ave. The bike is a Specialized Sirrus, and the serial number (ends with) 867R. I’ve submitted a police report but don’t have a case number yet.

ADMIRAL THEFT: From Angie: “Stolen bike out of the Luna Apartment complex, purchased less than a year ago. Blue Yeti Sb130. Turquoise color.” (Similar to this stock photo.)

Finally, a dumped-and-likely-stolen bike:

FOUND IN FAIRMOUNT AREA: From Alex on Tuesday night:

Saw this one at the construction site on Fauntleroy near Dawson (not the one on the corner). It wasn’t there this morning and I assume construction happened since then so probably recent dump. Looks like an electric one without a battery so maybe taken from a garage or storage.

ADDED 3:51 PM: One more dumped bike.

FOUND ON ALKI POINT: Jason originally contacted us because a bicycle shown here last week as “found” turned out to be his. He has it back now. But this one was left in place of the one stolen from him, so he’d like to get it back to its owner:

Yours? Let us know and we’ll connect you.

Alex S. September 23, 2020 (3:05 pm)

If your bike is stolen, make sure it is immediately registered on Bike Index, consider joining / posting on the Seattle Area Stolen Bikes facebook page, and watch all new postings on OfferUp & Craigslist; it’s best to check hourly because thieves post and remove listings in quick fashion. If there are any encampments or RVs nearby, it’s worth doing a drive or walk-by if you can do so safely. Almost all stolen bikes end up there.

WSB September 23, 2020 (4:00 pm)

Bicycles – and cars! – are also sometimes left in place of others that subsequently are stolen, like the one we just added above. (We’ve also seen stolen cars left where bikes were taken and vice versa.) Anyway, thanks to everyone who keeps watch – like Jason, whose bike was found by Amy, and who is now trying to find the owner of the one left in its place. – TR

Don Brubeck September 23, 2020 (5:00 pm)

Sorry for the losses of people whose bike or car is stolen. If you have not done it already, register your bike RIGHT NOW on BikeIndex to have a chance at recovery. For a fascinating story of how bicycles become currency, and what it’s like at the US/Mexico border, read Kimball Taylor’s book The Coyote’s Bicycle.

bolo September 23, 2020 (7:59 pm)

About that e-bike: The battery is the most expensive part of an e-bike. Could have been removed and the bike dumped. My theory is that e-bike battery is the new Prius catalytic converter. In other words, desirable for easy conversion to cash.

Recently I have been seeing Jump bikes with the batteries removed.

Downtown September 24, 2020 (10:13 pm)

While I was waiting for the bus downtown I hear to obviously homeless gentlemen talking. One told the other he had gotten 2 Rad bikes that day and they were going to get more that weekend. I wish the cops would do more about the thousands of stolen bikes in this city. If the city wants more people to ride bikes they are going to have to start helping people keep those bikes.