WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Westwood robbery; vehicle arson; dumped-likely-stolen bicycle

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

WESTWOOD VILLAGE ROBBERY: Police are investigating a reported armed robbery at the Westwood Village Rite Aid store right now; a note on the door indicates it’s closed until 1 pm as a result. We’re hoping to get more information at the scene but in the meantime, police-radio exchanges indicate the robber(s) are believed to have escaped in a light-blue small-SUV-type vehicle last seen eastbound on SW Barton, and that this could be related to similar robberies in the region.

ADDED 3:48 PM: From the preliminary police summary:

At approximately 10:22, officers responded to a robbery at the Rite Aid located at 2600 SW Barton Street. Witnesses described the (robber) as a juvenile male between the age of 14 and 18. The (robber) jumped over the pharmacy counter, demanded Promethazine and Codeine, and threatened the victims with a firearm. The (robber) was armed with a handgun. Victims complied and provided the (robber) with an unknown amount of product.

VEHICLE ARSON: Another suspected arson at an encampment near the 1st Avenue South Bridge; the early summary on this one says it happened after 2 am, and that a witness reported that someone poured gasoline on a vehicle and set it on fire. SFD was called and extinguished the fire. No arrest or injuries reported.

STOLEN-LIKELY-DUMPED BICYCLE: From Elyse:

Recently this lovely Peugeot bike was left in our community (Duwamish Cohousing) near the 16th Ave entrance, across from the college. It was dumped with a hodgepodge of what looked like stolen items. It’s a nice bike and we’d love to return it to its owner.

For those who always ask, yes, they’ve already tried other ways of trying to find its owner. If the bicycle might be yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.

Judy P. April 14, 2021 (11:51 am)

What is happening at Westwood with what feels like a spree of recent crimes? Seems like the center’s management needs to up its game. How about an article on the subject?

WSB April 14, 2021 (12:55 pm)

They don’t comment, even on innocuous things like new-business plans. Here’s the non-comment from a year ago, when the surveillance trailers were deployed.
https://westseattleblog.com/2020/04/about-those-surveillance-video-trailers-at-westwood-village/
- Carson April 14, 2021 (2:01 pm)
  
  Of course we can all speak with our wallets if they choose to remain silent on the issue. it is a safety issue after all, ours, the employees and the community as a whole.
Mark32 April 14, 2021 (5:26 pm)

What would you like them to do? Crime pays, and if you do get arrested your out in a day.

As voters we need to decide if we want to continue down the same path. I fear we will.

Wendell April 14, 2021 (12:04 pm)

Armed robbery happening this morning, but only “Closed until 1pm”. Just let that sink in for a minute.

Auntie April 14, 2021 (3:11 pm)

I thought about it and don’t know what you mean. Should they just stay closed all day for no reason? It’s not like the robbers are going to come back for another round.
- Question Authority April 14, 2021 (5:52 pm)
  
  Maybe that location is understaffed and they wanted to give them more time off because they’re traumatized, did you ever think about that scenario? Maybe they wanted to install a jump proof counter partition to save the employees from having a gun put in their face?

Doree FazioYoung April 14, 2021 (12:22 pm)

Thinking of everyone at my Rite Aide store I love all those people in there WestWood is getting out of control I sure hope they can get a handle on things down there

Josh April 14, 2021 (12:57 pm)

I don’t understand all the crime at Westwood? That security cart is always around, the cameras, etc., so many incidents recently – middle of the day! I’m fearful to go there at any time now.Is the security not doing its job there? What does management say?

Anne April 14, 2021 (3:38 pm)

What security? I’ve only seen one actual Security Guard around-in daytime-& that’s not often. Cameras yes- but not LE cameras. See the first post & WSB response. Have never felt owners/management have ever been connected to community-or care much about anything regarding WWV.

WSB April 14, 2021 (3:50 pm)

Added a bit more detail from police re: the robbery.

1994 April 14, 2021 (7:54 pm)

More WWV idiots to add to the WWV idiot wall of shame photos.

Friend April 14, 2021 (8:09 pm)

Vote with your feets and wallets Westwood is about $. They wont react till shrinkage is impacting them. Its cheaper to let theft go instead of adding security.sad

East Coast Cynic April 14, 2021 (8:57 pm)

At the very least, the police ought to consider some sort of stake out, or some sort of extra attention to that Rite-Aid. Isn’t this the 2nd or 3rd time this Rite-Aid has been robbed in a few months? Or the police defunding doesn’t allow for such attention. Looking at the parking lots, WWV appears to still be well attended in spite of the robberies and the shoplifting such that ownership doesn’t appear to be too concerned about the impact of crime on the mall.

WSB April 14, 2021 (9:03 pm)

They do when they can, as we’ve reported multiple times before. For example, that’s why an officer was there at the time of the Easter Sunday purse-snatch attempt on which we reported recently (with the suspect charged and still in jail).

just wondering April 15, 2021 (7:35 am)

On a recent visit to the Burien Kaiser Permanente pharmacy a sign was posted there saying they did not carry Promethazine and Codeine .

Kim April 15, 2021 (10:30 am)

Interesting but people who are stoned and want to commit a robbery I bet don’t pay much attention to signs about what drugs that a pharmacy carries or don’t carry.

Raina April 17, 2021 (6:49 pm)

If you guys would open your eyes. It’s not just westwood. How many times have we had an armed robbery locally lately? How many times has Walgreens lest than a mile up the hill been robbed this year alone? Before anyone else blames it in the homeless, most of the homeless in white center don’t Own guns. It’s the homed. People who are living inside, who still attempt to pay their rent, or who haven’t been evicted. And are ticked off they can’t afford their homes bills, drugs,food. Whatever. It’s a bigger picture plaguing society as a whole.

Sorry, comment time is over.