WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Catalytic converters again

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports on this Saturday, and both involve catalytic converters:

THEFT: The catalytic converter was taken from M‘s vehicle at 4:50 am in Gatewood, near California/Othello. Police report filed. No other details. (Added: M’s vehicle is a Toyota RAV4.)

ATTEMPT: Received late this afternoon:

Just thwarted a second attempt on my Prius in my driveway on Beach Drive. Interrupted thief while he was jacking up the car; he ran without the jack to a waiting older Lexus compact sedan, white, lic BXT—-, reported to SPD. I ran to get my phone, during which he came back for his jack and fled.

Also John August 21, 2021 (9:40 pm)

My sister recently installed a Cat Security plate on her Prious. Hopefully it’ll stop a thief.

Carole August 21, 2021 (9:57 pm)

Yep. Spend the couple hundred on the catsecurity and them stick the included decal on the car window. Well worth it.

Brandon August 22, 2021 (9:41 am)

My vehicle was also hit, parked in the same area.Thank you to the neighbor who left the note on my vehicle regarding the theft. I found what appears to be long hair strands, dirty blond in color that were hanging from the bottom of my car. Other neighbor reported two people, one female and one male.

DKB August 22, 2021 (9:49 am)

This vehicle description matches the car in the video of the cat theft on Aug. 9th where the lookout appeared to pull a gun…

Sasquatch August 22, 2021 (10:51 am)

Prius and Elements seem to be the cars frequently hit. Are there other models that should get a security plate installed? Hybrid Highlander?Thanks

IsItaBridgeYet? August 23, 2021 (12:18 pm)

Prius are hit the most because they have the cleanest converters because of their light weight and primary use of electricity. General rule is the heavier the hybrid vehicle, the less attractive it is. Not saying the odds are zero, but you see less of the full sized SUVs getting Hit

drahcir August 22, 2021 (4:20 pm)

I’ve started bringing my car key to bed at night. The key has an emergency button which will sound the car’s alarm & flash all the lights. I realize not all cars have this but if yours does, it could scare the you-know-what out of someone prowling near your car, especially if you hear that god-awful sound of someone grinding your catalytic converter.

Uhhhh… August 25, 2021 (6:36 am)

Have you watched a video of a catalytic converter being stolen? Between taking less than 45 seconds to steal, and in the prior case case the lookout had a gun, a simple “emergency alert” setting on your car won’t do anything to intimidate them to stop them from stealing the cat once they’ve started.

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