WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bike stolen from outside store

What’s being stuffed into that car is a bicycle stolen moments earlier – around noon today – from outside the south end of Admiral Safeway. The thief cut the cable lock, according to (update) a friend of the bike owner’s mom, Kelly. The bicycle is a blue 2021 Kona Kahuna, 29″ wheels, bought from Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor). The thief’s car had an Oregon license plate, starting with 990; the image is from video taken by a bystander who followed him after the theft (we don’t have the clip in a playable size). No police-report # yet.

just wondering August 26, 2021 (5:45 pm)

They are getting so bold in the middle of the day! What is on the top of the car?

waikikigirl August 26, 2021 (6:43 pm)

Yea what is that on top of the car?

Mj August 26, 2021 (5:45 pm)

Incredulous the brazen theft of bikes and other items throughout the City. These perps need to be caught and held accountable.

Al King August 26, 2021 (6:14 pm)

LIVING PROOF that wringing your hands and saying/thinking “you poor thing” doesn’t work. Lock ’em up and throw away the key.

Jort August 26, 2021 (9:10 pm)

A life sentence for stealing a bike? Yeah, I don’t exactly think that’s a rational response, either, Al King. “Throw away the key”? What do you want America to be like, China? Saudi Arabia? Unreal.
- Mikey justone August 26, 2021 (9:28 pm)
  
  Jort..if this country would have elected Trump and his big lie, yes, we would be a China, and Saudi Arabia. Still, I believe in the punishment. If you steal a bike, then you should have 500 community hours building bikes. If you get caught spray painting graffiti on a wall, then you will spend time cleaning graffiti up. ENOUGH! This city has got to stop saying their their!
  - S.A. August 27, 2021 (12:30 pm)
    
    “If you steal a bike, then you should have 500 community hours building bikes. If you get caught spray painting graffiti on a wall, then you will spend time cleaning graffiti up. “Sounds like a restorative justice approach! I agree.
    - CandrewB August 27, 2021 (2:15 pm)
      
      And what if you refuse? Then jail time? Even under 18? Unfortunately we will inevitably end up like SA or China. The pendulum over correction will brutal. And it will be the Statists that ultimately implement it.
- Frog August 27, 2021 (10:47 am)
  
  Yes, prison is expensive. Maybe stocks in Hiawatha park (with expired produce contributed by Safeway), or caning like they do in Singapore. Google “mobile phone thief [name of any tropical country]” and you can find lots of other creative, low-cost options that have been used.
  - Jort August 27, 2021 (2:05 pm)
    
    There are some things I’ll never understand about humans, and one of them will always be the bizarre desire to inflict pain and torture on people who violate certain laws. This bloodlust, this craven thirst for vengeful retribution — it is unsettling and discouraging. Add in the subtly racist “any tropical country” and perhaps we begin to understand the correlation. Truly sad.
    - RW August 31, 2021 (4:31 am)
      
      I certainly agree there needs to be restraint in punishing people for certain types of crimes, but being overly-lenient does not deter petty thieves from being repeat offenders or even becoming career criminals. It is these types of small crimes, collectively, that result in millions of dollars worth of property being stolen. The attitude seems to be that police have more serious issues to concentrate on and these are lower-priority crimes. It’s a huge problem. Filling jails with petty criminals is not a particularly good solution. Instead, there should be long-term and meaningful community service, heavy fines, and full restitution for stolen or destroyed property. In some cases, perhaps require the under-trained and/or unemployed perpetrators to complete job training programs and find and sustain full-time jobs to support themselves. Repeat offenses should be treated more harshly.

wseaturtle August 26, 2021 (7:43 pm)

That looks like a 1999 Honda Accord, black spider rims. Oregon license plate 990xxx as stated.Check the usual homeless areas, that’s where we found ours.

CHRIS CAMERON August 26, 2021 (7:46 pm)

At Alki Bike we beg people to buy the best locks they can afford. Cheap cable locks are merely a step up from a shoelace.

BMC August 27, 2021 (8:48 am)

Can you recommend a type of lock please?
WS Islander August 27, 2021 (1:35 pm)

Blaming the victim for the bike lock they use is like… victim blaming.I often will not bike places because I’m worried about my bike being stolen or don’t feel like hauling multiple heavy bike locks w me.Until people take bike theft seriously, bikes will never be safe transportation.
- Adam August 29, 2021 (9:19 pm)
  
  Nobody blamed the victim for having the wrong lock, they suggested a way to prevent this in the future, and I bet the victim will heed this advice. Now, you calling this victim blaming is like, well……absurd, childish, and a complete misunderstanding of the words that person put to text, and sadly willfully and intentionally so.
Matt P August 27, 2021 (11:01 pm)

There is really no lock that will stop a bike thief, but your best bet is to make sure you lock is better than the others where you lock it.

LM August 26, 2021 (8:14 pm)

990LCE Oregon. 1999 dark burgundy Honda Accord. A passerby filmed the entire event – dude cut the lock, took off the front tire and attempted to stuff the bike in backseat but couldn’t shut the door properly – took off anyway.white guy, 25-30? Scruffy blonde hair, short? 5’6” ? Looks like living on the streets. I saw the video.

sbre August 26, 2021 (8:39 pm)

To “Mom, Kelly”, I very recently obtained two bikes that I have no need for and my fit your child, free of charge.Write if you’re interested in taking a look at them.swimbikeruneat at gee mail dot khom

kelly August 26, 2021 (9:35 pm)

i wrote it in b/c my kid was with him as they locked up their bikes and went in – i was in a hurry and just said my kid it was easier while typing quickly – lol – this guy broke the lock, took it apart and proceeded to shove it in his car as the person recording it talked to him and watched it all go down. i have my eyes wide open – once there they will be back. what a jerk. these kids are just having fun and going to get a drink and responsibly locking their bikes up. thx SBRE ill pass on your message.
- aRF August 27, 2021 (3:16 pm)
  
  Do you know the police report number for this?

AdmiralByrd August 26, 2021 (10:08 pm)

I’m guessing it’s just a style of shoe I’m not familiar with, but that sure looks like an ankle bracelet….what’s so hard about keeping your mitts off other peoples’ stuff?

wssz August 26, 2021 (11:32 pm)

It sure does look like an ankle tracking bracelet. Really good catch. That guy needs to be tracked and stopped.
- Beepee August 27, 2021 (11:42 am)
  
  I saw this guy shopping at admiral Safeway around 10-1030 pm either Monday or Tuesday night. Looked like pigpen from Charlie Brown covered in tons of dirt, and no those are a certain type of skate board shoes. Too bad you couldn’t track the card he bought his groceries with but that was probably stolen too
Alex S. August 27, 2021 (3:31 pm)

Drugs. Drugs make it hard to not steal. Oh, and entitlement.

Mj August 26, 2021 (10:33 pm)

Jort – theft is not acceptable and the perps need to be held accountable. You want people to use a bike to commute to work et al, yet bike theft is a big deterrent for many people to make this a viable option. I was using a bike for many trips until it got stolen and I cannot afford to lose another one to theft. It’s time to make the perps pay for the crimes they commit.

RW August 27, 2021 (3:52 am)

We see many photos of these types of “crimes in progress” being posted in the WS Blog, often with clear images of the perpetrators. I’d be curious to know if they result in the police finding and arresting these perpetrators?

WSB August 27, 2021 (10:34 am)

Yes, people have been prosecuted from surveillance video.
- RW August 31, 2021 (4:12 am)
  
  Good to hear. Thanks!

Runner August 27, 2021 (6:28 am)

Honestly, some of the responses act like this is just a one off for this guy. I would guess this is how he makes his living. If there is no punishment then there is no incentive to change behavior. This isn’t rocket science folks.

Porch_Sitter August 27, 2021 (8:07 am)

My son had this experience at Admiral Safeway a few weeks ago. A bystander let him know what happened. Kudos to the photographer! Curious if it is the same person or group. This is his second stolen bike in as many years which is a big deal for someone who relies on it for fun and transportation. This is why we can’t have nice things…

YES2WS August 27, 2021 (8:13 am)

I don’t think it’s an ankle bracelet. The white of the tongue lines up perfectly and the coloring of the rest of the shoe matches

Rob August 27, 2021 (9:12 am)

Put the phone down and knock these people out. We need to step up as good people and make the bad people understand their actions have consequences.

Vincent August 27, 2021 (10:14 am)

I suggest that you register you bikes, including serial numbers on the website, bikeindex.org It helped me recently n the recovery of my bike that was stolen.

Lincoln Park Mom August 27, 2021 (10:52 am)

Nothing that a little mace spray couldn’t take care of. I might go buy some and pack it with me. Spray that guy and while he’s withering in pain, grab the bike back. He may think twice next time.

S.A. August 27, 2021 (12:35 pm)

That would be assault.
- River August 27, 2021 (4:03 pm)
  
  Others might call it justice.
  - S.A. August 27, 2021 (7:06 pm)
    
    Yes, you might, but it would still be assault. I personally don’t want to live in a society where it’s OK to bear mace someone over a piece of property.
    - River August 27, 2021 (10:55 pm)
      
      Feel free to be a victim. I choose otherwise.
    - Lm August 28, 2021 (12:34 pm)
      
      It’s pepper spray by the way. I don’t want to live in a society where drug addicts, street scum, thieves or whatever low life descriptor is appropriate feel
      Confident cutting the lock on a bike in a crowded area while an adult is filming the entire time.
- Hiawatha neighbor August 27, 2021 (7:33 pm)
  
  Use of force is lawful as defined in 9A.16.020Besides, you think that the thief would call 911 to report an assault? And then you’d stick around a few hours waiting for cops to show up? And they somehow decide to charge you instead of giving you a nice commemorative medal?
anonyme August 27, 2021 (4:40 pm)

Agree with Lincoln Park Mom. I’ve started carrying mace everywhere, as I no longer feel safe anywhere. I also don’t think it is assault if it’s to prevent a crime in progress. If it is – I don’t care. It is our current hands-off policies that have emboldened scum like this to commit such brazen crimes. The car was probably stolen. Hopefully, that really was an ankle bracelet and this scum can be found and locked in a cave somewhere.

mike August 27, 2021 (11:34 am)

Here’s a better pick of Mr. ankle bracelet. That’s a late 90’s Honda Accord he drove away in.. My sonand his friends all locked up their bikes responsibly at Admiral Safeway, and this (pictured) troll cut our friends new Kahuna bike loose with his bolt cutters…brazenly stealing while being filmed.

Bmc August 27, 2021 (1:19 pm)

Good pics! Let’s get the a hole outta here.

helpermonkey August 27, 2021 (2:16 pm)

that guy looks methed up.

Mj August 27, 2021 (3:35 pm)

Jort on one hand you want people to use a bike to commute et al yet on the other hand you do not want to aggressively prosecute bike thieves. Bike theft is a big deterrent to many people to make the switch.

DH August 28, 2021 (1:45 pm)

Exactly. I have a good bike. I hardly ever use it because of the bike theft problem. I often walk to the store but walking limits the range of where I can go. I wish there was more interest in keeping bike theft from happening. Maybe we need a bike check area inside like a coat check. Don’t get me wrong I’d rather see accountability which is why I’ll be voting differently than I have in the past. The fact that he kept stealing it despite being filmed and having a person directly confronting him speaks volumes. Maybe I’m just getting old but this is just ridiculous and unacceptable.

bloo August 27, 2021 (5:16 pm)

SBRE – the mother of the teenager whose bike was stolen is named Johanna. I will ask her to read the comments on this post so she can see your generous offer. Thank you so much for your kindness!And thank you to the person who filmed this – fantastic to get the license plate.

Krs August 27, 2021 (11:41 pm)

Unsure if it was this guy, but I was driving back into WS from downtown today about 4pm and saw a guy who looked like this with a bike on one of those side streets off of S Michigan Ave. Either 4th Ave or 5th Ave cross street. It was a street that had several RVs parked on it with tarps over them. He was just in the middle of that street trying to put a bike on a cart or something strange.