WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 robbers hold up Bellevue Rare Coins in The Junction; store closes a day later for security update

6:08 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are at Bellevue Rare Coins in The Junction right now, investigating a robbery. No details available but looking inside the store, we could see that at least one of the cases was smashed. It’s been just three weeks since the business had windows smashed by a person described in the police report as a disgruntled client.

7:57 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Valerie Carson tells WSB that three robbers “took cash and merchandise” before leaving “in a dark-colored Honda sedan.” They are described only as armed, male, and in their late teens/early twenties. No injuries reported.

2:34 PM THURSDAY: A few more details from police today: “(The robbers) forced the employees to lay face down on the ground. (They) then forced the employees to take money from the cash registers and a back room safe … they also smashed several jewelry display cases and took several jewelry items. It was estimated (they) stole twelve thousand dollars in cash and additional jewelry. All three (robbers) fled in a black, mid-1990s Honda Accord that was parked nearby. One of the (robbers) walked with a distinctive limp.”

2:47 PM THURSDAY: The store has sent this announcement saying it’s closing immediately for a security update:

Beginning today, April 7, 2022, Bellevue Rare Coins will be closing their West Seattle location for remodeling and updating their security measures. This closure will be effective immediately and last through July 2022.

In light of recent events we will be taking this opportunity to not only improve the aesthetics and layout of our store for a more satisfying experience for our customers. This remodel will also improve the safety and security for our customers, as well as our staff. As safety for all is our top priority, we will also be utilizing this time to improve security at all other Bellevue Rare Coins locations, bringing all protocols and equipment up-to-date with state of the art security. During this time of closure, all West Seattle staff will be relocated to surrounding locations to better serve our community and meet the needs of our customers.

We look forward to serving our West Seattle customers again in July, with a safer and updated environment.

Procol April 6, 2022 (7:15 pm)

That “disgruntled customer” drove away in a stolen car btw.

WSB April 6, 2022 (7:49 pm)

Yes, we reported that at the time; story is linked above.

rob April 6, 2022 (8:11 pm)

how soon can we get some store camera shots of these crooks so as the public we can maybe help catch them.

WSB April 6, 2022 (8:53 pm)

If the store has them and distributes them, we’d publish them. Hopefully they have provided video – again, if they have it – to police already, as they might recognize one or more of the robbers (as in the recent Andover shooting).

D Burns April 6, 2022 (8:30 pm)

I was downtown for the first time in ages today and in Pacific Place – a ghost town and many empty store fronts – and learned that Tiffany’s, which was an anchor store with a grand entrance on the street, was completely shut down with signs saying, “Tiffany’s has temporarily moved upstairs”. For some reason it really made me stop and realize how bad things are. These small jewelry/gold coin stores must be so stressed out. I’m so sorry things are like this.

Lumpy April 6, 2022 (9:55 pm)

Worth noting that Tiffany’s was moved simply due to the Pacific Place remodel, which started prior to the pandemic, and was not due to any sort of criminal activity downtown.
- GT April 7, 2022 (5:38 am)
  
  When was downtown ever not a construction zone nightmare?
Swede April 7, 2022 (1:07 pm)

Heard that from my GF that had to go to Seattle downtown today (4/7) too. Also observed several military style SUV’s with tinted down windows driving around… Sounds a bit like Marshall law secretly been put in effect…

Balderdash April 6, 2022 (8:34 pm)

‘armed’…. that’s just great. Terrible.

WeNeedBatman April 6, 2022 (8:45 pm)

The business theft in the Junction has gotten way out of hand as of late. There is no fear in these thieves.

Danger April 6, 2022 (10:49 pm)

Broad daylight armed robbery all the time now. Unreal.

Gatewood Resident April 6, 2022 (9:10 pm)

Defund the police movement that alienated communities and their police from each other is working out great, if the goal was for the city to look worse that ever. Maybe it’s not that but some other mix of unsuccessful policy, I can’t really be sure. Rode a bike today from downtown on the new bike trail by the coast guard station and got threatened by a transient for doing nothing but minding my own damn business and riding a bike on a damn bike path. No wonder businesses and families are moving to the eastside, it feels like just garbage and crime and transients everywhere, and it sucks. Maybe Seattle needs a mayor like NYC to clean things up again. Maybe I’m not hip or progressive enough to realize how great leftist policies are working out.

Sunshine April 6, 2022 (10:25 pm)

What defend the police movement? How did it alienate…..? And what does any of that have anything to do with this?
- Lisa April 7, 2022 (5:56 am)
  
  How does it not have to do with this? Of course it does. Emboldened criminals.
- Kelsey April 7, 2022 (4:27 pm)
  
  Defund the Police, not defend.
alki_2008 April 6, 2022 (11:10 pm)

NYC, as in Adams? The recent crime trends there are not something Seattle should be aspiring to.
Derek April 7, 2022 (6:55 am)

Stop pushing lies. Police were never defunded. And why are you being so rude to transients and the houseless community??
- Jay April 7, 2022 (8:44 am)
  
  The police haven’t been defunded. But that bike chop shop by the Coast Guard is a rough place, I don’t doubt for a second he was threatened there. It’s worse because you pretty much have to ride by it if you commute from West Seattle to the mainland.
- Pedro April 7, 2022 (10:43 am)
  
  Derek-While the actual defunding was relatively modest; there was clear and unambiguous messaging from the City Counsel that they wanted to cut police funding by 50% and that they did not support the police (and in many cases were actively anti-police). This led to both a lack of morale and attrition. So yes, the defund the police movement had a very real, negative impact on our police force. In terms of being rude to the transient and homeless population; I tend not to welcome those people who trash our city with open arms. From the litter, filth, human waste, and stolen goods, to the fires, crimes and drugs. It’s a disgrace. So are they being maligned? Yes and for good reasons. In short, they are not our struggling good hearted neighborhoods down on their luck as you try to cast them. And no one is railing against those homeless individuals who happen to fit that bill. But that not the folks you see by the underpass near the stadiums or the folks in the RVs near the health club.
  - Proto April 7, 2022 (4:08 pm)
    
    So your defense of the police amounts to “they had their feelings hurt by some of the rhetoric around killing less black people and decided to stop protecting property?” Compelling!
- Mike April 7, 2022 (8:02 pm)
  
  Thank you I was gonna sat the same thing.
Gooeyfish April 7, 2022 (10:40 am)

Honestly, who’s even talking about that now? There were a small group of people that wanted this, but nothing has happened. More propaganda.

Seattlite April 6, 2022 (10:25 pm)

Gatewood Resident…Great comment. “Unsuccessful policy” is key to Seatttle’s decline.

Vee April 6, 2022 (10:33 pm)

Yeah, not good, doesnt feel that safe any time, anywhere, hopefully people will get caught and be held accountable, wont stop unless there are deterrents and consequences, think Bellevue rare coins should take film down in windows,so you can see inside when looking In, might help

Too Close to Home April 7, 2022 (1:00 am)

This rattles the hell out of me—I was just there yesterday. First, my condolences to the staff—they are all very kind and knowledgeable people and don’t deserve this. I’m just glad no one was hurt and I’m anxiously awaiting more details before I decide whether I’ll go back. It’s a narrow store and no place to hide before they’d be right on top of you (as a customer). They have a lot of precious metals and jewelry and I’m honestly surprised they don’t have a “beep in” security door. We are all going to have to lose our Mayberry image of sleepy West Seattle—those innocent days are gone. And isn’t the description of the armed perps the same as with the recent cannabis heists? I’m hopeful their security cams might help find these punks. In the meantime, I may have to find a coin store with more security—it’s open season on West Seattle (cash) businesses. And yes, I absolutely see a direct correlation to misplaced “defund” ideology. I was told it took the cops 40 min to show up following the last broken window incident. We need more funding, not less, more cops and more common sense.

Ol Red April 7, 2022 (4:45 am)

I think everyone here is fed up with crime in west Seattle, and anywhere for that matter. It’s time for accountability!Sunshine, quit dumping rain on someone’s thoughts because they aren’t yours. You forget the focus and what this is about.. the actual story!

WS Taxpayer April 7, 2022 (6:33 am)

I think most fail to recognize the affects of the “defund the police” movement was less about the actual money and more about the political and social abandonment of a critical service in our community. Undermining the value of a proud profession and emboldening their detractors is the result of this “movement” nothing more.

Boinsted April 7, 2022 (9:00 am)

WS TAXPAYER is spot on. Thank you!
H April 7, 2022 (9:36 am)

Couldn’t agree with this sentiment more. And the city council (except for Sara Nelson, who was elected later) all cheered on the Defund crowd. Vote these people out and make our city safe again.
Jay April 7, 2022 (12:09 pm)

That’s a bad take. It’s about accountability for people in positions of authority. SPD and their union have engaged in reprehensible behavior. Their overtime fraud is still ongoing even though every news organization in the city reported on it! We’re paying a beat cop over $400k/yr to fill out fraudulent overtime paperwork.

Fred April 7, 2022 (8:21 am)

As daunting as it sounds, to change the current situation, we each need to educate ourselves on the political agenda in this state and take responsibility for it by getting involved. It will continue to get worse if people, the citizens, do not get involved and take action. Where does all the money go that is not going to the police, homeless, etc.?

Jack April 7, 2022 (9:03 am)

I was at the Classic Barber earlier this week and 3 guys were definitely casing her shop and other shops on that block.

TM7302 April 7, 2022 (11:24 am)

See something, say something. It’s the easy way to start taking our community back. If something doesn’t look right, call the police. They may not be able to get to you, but you give a description to the 911 dispatcher that can be used later…

Sixbuck April 7, 2022 (2:01 pm)

Is there a useful description of these suspects?

WSB April 7, 2022 (2:13 pm)

If any additional information had been available, we would have published it, as always. This is the entirety of the information provided by police, as noted above.
- WSB April 7, 2022 (2:34 pm)
  
  And that said, there is one added descriptive detail today: “One of the (robbers) walked with a distinctive limp.”
  - M April 7, 2022 (4:43 pm)
    
    Wonder if these are the same guys that are wanted for robbing multiple pot shops? 15 and 16 years old, one of them has a prosthetic leg.
  - Wsgal April 7, 2022 (7:27 pm)
    
    So the boys that murdered the pit shop person? Awesome

WSB April 7, 2022 (2:50 pm)

And another update: Store has just shut down for a multi-month security update/remodel.

Too Close To Home April 7, 2022 (4:04 pm)

As noted from personal experience in comments above, I think this is overdue. The lack of a security door or even paid security given the volume of untraceable precious metals alone makes this a high value target. And anyone shopping inside could be at risk along with staff. Kudos for BRC for taking care of their staff, first and foremost. I look forward to trading with them again after they have upgraded security and will likely travel to other locations in the meantime.

nobody April 7, 2022 (3:16 pm)

M/O and limp sure sound familiar – https://komonews.com/news/operation-crime-justice/teenagers-released-on-house-arrest-before-deadly-pot-shot-robbery-in-tacoma-records-show

Steve April 7, 2022 (4:02 pm)

Did I miss any Vote them outs? Cause that’s what we say now. It’s the new Thoughts and Prayers. You know… does/means nothing.

Chris April 7, 2022 (7:48 pm)

With the current crime in West Seattle, any suggestions on keeping ourselves safe as we have the West Seattle Community Garage Sale? We assume we all will be dealing with cash? Thanks.

K. April 7, 2022 (10:31 pm)

Has there been any information about these individual’s possibly being the same as the federal way robbery where the suspects were put on house arrest and fled? One of them was described as having a “distinctive limp” as well. https://komonews.com/amp/news/operation-crime-justice/teen-robbery-suspects-on-house-arrest-on-the-run-after-cutting-off-electronic-monitors

Eldorado April 8, 2022 (6:54 am)

Honestly don’t understand why there isn’t a police presence in the junction 24/7/365. Too many businesses are being attacked. I’m seeing more plywood than glass it seems. glad no one was hurt in this instance, however. Armed robbery is no joke.

Sorry, comment time is over.