WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red Mazda, flower-basket thief on video, two arrests

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN MAZDA: Lynda sent the photo and report of her father’s stolen car:

Date taken: 9/7/22 before 4 pm
Location: 35th Ave SW and SW Graham
Red 2007 Mazda CX7
License #: BAL5763
Identifying feature: Black and yellow striped sticker on bumper
Case number: 22-238861

FLOWER-BASKET THIEF: A hanging flower basket was stolen from outside the Senior Center of West Seattle, whose executive director Amy Lee Derenthal sent the security video, wondering if anyone recognizes the thief:

On Sunday morning at 5:45 a.m. a person drove up to the Senior Center, brought a box to stand o,n and stole our hanging flower basket from outside the front door of the Senior Center. We pay for these flower baskets and the seniors love them. I’m so bummed someone purposefully chose to steal it.

BURGLARY ARREST: Just after 6 am today, police were called to Westwood Village for a report that someone had broken into a store (we haven’t confirmed which one) and was tampering with a cash register. Police arrived and made a quick arrest. They confirm the suspect was booked into jail.

WINDOW-SMASHING SUSPECT RE-ARRESTED: Last week we reported on the arrest of 48-year-old Gerald Hochstadt after a window-smashing rampage August 29th at the Morgan Junction Starbucks. He was released after two days in jail because the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said police hadn’t received all the evidence they needed – specifically, a damage estimate – to send them what they needed to file charges. One day later, last Thursday, that information came in, and Hochstadt was charged with first-degree malicious mischief. We’ve been checking the jail roster, and discovered he was arrested on Monday and has been in jail since then.

13 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red Mazda, flower-basket thief on video, two arrests"

  • Lola September 8, 2022 (12:39 pm)

    Might there be footage of the car as it drove away?  Or did they backup knowing there was a camera.  Pretty bold of them to do this it looks like early morning when hardly anybody is driving by.  

  • anonyme September 8, 2022 (12:41 pm)

    I hate thieves of all kinds, but those who steal plants or steal from seniors are more despicable than your garden-variety thief (pun intended).  I really hope that someone recognizes either the basket or this disgusting slob and she is put in jail as a result.

  • Mellow Kitty September 8, 2022 (1:28 pm)

    I can’t stand thieves! They are scum! 

  • local September 8, 2022 (1:37 pm)

    That flower basket theft is cringey AF! How mortifying that someone would steal that, from the Senior Center, no less. I hope someone can identify the thief. 

    • Adam September 8, 2022 (4:41 pm)

      Cringey af indeed. Sure is dressed like she’s on her way to a Sunday service. Better burn that print skirt, it’s  identifiable and unique. 

      • Gay September 8, 2022 (7:19 pm)

        She?

  • Audifans September 8, 2022 (1:44 pm)

    Bold, brash, brazen and bizarre.  I’m surprised anything is left in West Seattle with this sort of misbehaving and bad actors.  I know of someone right across the street from Senior Center who had their plants taken.  Ugh

  • Lisa September 8, 2022 (1:51 pm)

    How can you enjoy flowers that you have stolen?  What a horrible thing to do.  Premeditated, she didn’t just walk past and decide on the spot to steal them,,,,she brought a crate to stand on to reach them, and when she couldn’t reach them, she went away and got something else to help her. I am glad it was caught on camera to show just how pre planed this was.

  • pam September 8, 2022 (3:36 pm)

    Who had a wedding or a funeral that had a gorgeous basket of flowers on Sunday?

  • Josh September 8, 2022 (5:27 pm)

    Who in the hell is gonna stole a pot of flowers, you have to be very low life to do that.

  • Oh Seattle September 8, 2022 (6:07 pm)

    Anyone have a sisterwife go missing around 5:45 Sunday morning?  

  • Also John September 8, 2022 (6:31 pm)

    More prisons….more prisons…more prisons!  Fund more police and prisons.

  • biankat September 9, 2022 (9:28 pm)

    This woman is absolutely despicable. Complete degenerate. The Senior Center is the most amazing facility in the peninsula. I hope she is outed by people who recognize her. I did see the other camera angle and she appeared to be driving a dark blue or black small SUV, possibly a CRV. It appeared she just got lucky to not drive the car in the view of the door camera. After stealing the basket, she reversed and drove north up the alley behind the post office. Disgusting.

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