WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 more catalytic-converter thefts; car prowlers

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports today:

2 MORE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS: From Scott:

My much-loved Honda Element lost its catalytic converter to despicable thieves (Friday) night. As did my fellow Element owner the next block south. I’m in the 2600 block of Belvidere. It is an expensive problem, not just the cost of the replacement part itself but they cause collateral damage which also must be fixed. Found vehicles are lining up for these repairs at shops.

Though a variety of vehicles are vulnerable, Elements are among the most-popular targets these days, as we learned firsthand in February.

CAR PROWLS: From Karen in Hansen View:

One of our neighbors discovered this morning that car prowlers hit several vehicles in our neighborhood overnight. They broke out a streetside-facing window on two vehicles that were parked on SW Dawson where it dead-ends just west of 36th. They unlocked our older Subaru, rifled through the glove box, and left a large straightedge screwdriver behind. Another neighbor had his van prowled, but doesn’t think anything was taken. As neighbors here compare notes, what we know so far is that this happened around 2 o’clock this morning and that they were in the alley between 36th and 37th – both north and south of Dawson – the 5000-block and 5200-block.

5 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 more catalytic-converter thefts; car prowlers"

  • Balderdash May 3, 2021 (8:54 am)

    This is a major problem that is only going to get worse. What is driving it is Palladium at over 3000 dollars an ounce. So, individual vehicle owners are going to have to protect themselves by installing some sort of undercar deterrent. Otherwise, these characters with their portable saws will just cut the cat off in less than a minute or so. 

  • Flivver May 3, 2021 (12:54 pm)

    Today’s Times has an article on this. state legislators talked about a law holding scrap yards responsible for verifying who and why they’re being brought in but surprise surprise didn’t act. Will be at least a year before they would do anything.

  • PC May 3, 2021 (1:03 pm)

    I wrote my state reps and urge others to do so.  Good article in Seattle Times tracking the surge in thefts. Washington appears to be lagging behind other states. Oregon is pushing Senate Bill 803, a bill that would prevent just anyone from selling catalytic converters to scrap metal businesses. They could only be sold by a commercial business. Missouri and a number of other states already have laws that help. According to the Times, state Sen. Jamie Pedersen says there were no efforts in Olympia this past session on this issue, and that the next opportunity to do so would be in the 2022 legislative session.

  • Balderdash May 5, 2021 (9:56 am)

    Do nothing legislature.. No surprise here.

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