WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Shoplifts-turned-robberies; on-ramp wire theft; tailgate taken

| Crime | West Seattle news

3 notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

SHOPLIFTS-TURNED-ROBBERIES: Two incidents to report under this category – one happened this afternoon, with a 37-year-old man arrested after allegedly brandishing a knife when someone attempted to stop him from shoplifting at the Westwood Village Ross Dress for Less. According to police-radio discussion, he also was sought for an earlier theft incident at High Point Walgreens. He’s in the King County Jail tonight, sixth booking in five months … A different man is wanted for robbery after a shoplifting incident Thursday at Westwood Village Target ended the same way, with a knife pulled out when store security tried to stop him, according to police. An initial partial description broadcast over police radio: Asian man in his mid-20s, green jacket, white Honda Civic with no plates or possibly a temporary plate, last seen southbound toward Roxbury.

ON-RAMP WIRE THEFT: Today WSDOT tweeted the story of a daylight wire theft on the onramp from northbound I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge:

At about 1:30 p.m. Monday, one of our signals techs spotted someone pulling wire out of conduit and a junction box mounted on the side of the NB I-5 ramp to West Seattle Bridge. It didn’t look legit so he had a colleague film & called 911.

State Patrol arrived and, with help from the video evidence, arrested the person. While the person had on a hard hat and vest, it was obvious to our worker it wasn’t a real operation. How? A legit signals operation will have warning signs, cones or barrels, a truck with markings and multiple people on site. None of those things were there in this case. So please be on the lookout and if you see something suspicious, call 911 to report it!

You can see the video by viewing the first tweet in the thread here.

TAILGATE THEFT: The photo and report are from Lisa:

I’d like to share that my truck was targeted overnight, and the tailgate was stolen off of it (picture below). It happened on Holden & 17th and a police report has been filed. This is just the most recent incident with our vehicles. A couple of months ago, the driver’s window was shattered. A few months before that, the rear window of our other car was demolished by someone throwing rocks.
It’s just so frustrating.

The report was filed online and they’re still awaiting the number; we’ll add it here when available. (Saturday update: 2022-922713.)

Marina October 21, 2022 (7:39 pm)

Who steals a tailgate?! Like, what do you do with a truckless tailgate?

Alki resident October 21, 2022 (8:39 pm)

You sell the tailgate for scrap. It’s been going on a long time. It’s important to always lock your tailgate.

CarDriver October 21, 2022 (8:28 pm)

Marina. Don’t know why but it is a thing. Manufacturers are starting to offer tailgate locks and if you google tailgate locks you’ll see a LOT of companies offering them.

map October 21, 2022 (9:09 pm)

Is there a map for West Seattle showing where all the car thefts and other burglaries?

WSB October 21, 2022 (9:31 pm)

The city has a variety of maps you can parse many ways, though none as simply (in my experience) as the map they dropped a couple years ago.

WSRes October 21, 2022 (9:18 pm)

6 jail booking in 5 months!?! If the situation wasn’t so dangerous for the community it would be comical. Soft on crime prosecutors and judges are making things so much worse. Who do they serve because it certainly isn’t the community. Good thing there’s a big election coming up……

WSB October 21, 2022 (9:28 pm)

He’s been charged in some of the cases – mostly misdemeanors, which would fall under the recently elected city attorney, not the county prosecutor.
Mark Schletty October 22, 2022 (9:02 am)

Unfortunately almost all the Judges are running unopposed so we cant get rid of them. I cant figure out why no one ever runs against the Judges here. That has not been the case in the other cities I have lived in (Chicago and Minneapolis).

Cranky October 21, 2022 (9:52 pm)

Some people just shouldn’t be circulating in the general society. Too much bad behavior.

BRN October 22, 2022 (9:54 am)

I live incredibly close to Lisa (have seen the damage) , she can park in front of my house and get off Holden if interested!

IJ October 22, 2022 (1:56 pm)

This situation with a repeat offender never being made accountable and remaining on the street to inflict more damage is at the heart of the coming election of a city prosecutor. Do your research well! Leesa Manion is part of the existing system and supports Dan Satterberg’s policies. If you are happy with the crime level on your streets vote for her. The other candidate, Jim Ferrell, is a yes/and politician: he believes you can ask for accountability from both police and criminals. As a long time prosecutor and a mayor he has real life experience of the effects of crime on the community. He is endorsed by Labor, police and nearly every mayor in the cities surrounding Seattle. Vote with care, it can make a real difference.

WSB October 23, 2022 (12:47 am)

There is no “city prosecutor” in this election. The city attorney, whose office’s duties include prosecuting misdemeanors, was elected last year. You are referring to the county prosecutor’s race.

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