WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen white Toyota van; charging-station vandalism

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

STOLEN VAN: The report and photo are from Andrea:

1988 white Toyota Van Wagon “Wonder Wagon” stolen from West Seattle the week of November 13-19. License Plate: AFV4867
Report filed with Seattle Police Southwest Precinct, incident #2022-307131. Please contact police with any information: 206-733-9800.

The van was stolen in the Morgan Junction area.

CHARGING-STATION VANDALISM: Via text, this report just in: “Someone vandalized and cut off the charging cord on the electric car charging station in front of the bowling alley.” The texter has reported this to Seattle City Light, and also noted that this happened recently at charging stations in Burien.

15 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen white Toyota van; charging-station vandalism"

  • Eric1 November 23, 2022 (3:47 pm)

    Hmmm. I can see how the theft of charging cords makes sense to a thief.  Time to set the default for charging stations to be in the on position.

  • Mr. j November 23, 2022 (3:58 pm)

    This happens everywhere. It’s a war on EV cars. Also, so dumb to do. 

    • Frog November 23, 2022 (4:54 pm)

      What is the motive for a war on EV cars, and who is waging it?

      • bill November 23, 2022 (5:30 pm)

        It’s not a war, just simple predation. $1 says you can find the discarded insulation on SW Marginal Pl, up the street from the recycling business.Wire thieves make off with cable from energized City Light installations, so I doubt that leaving EV stations energized will make a difference.

      • uncle loco November 23, 2022 (6:19 pm)

        Our local scavengers are profiteering off of this war. The price of copper must be high. I was riding up 599 at night last week and noticed over half of the street lights don’t work.

    • Les November 23, 2022 (5:27 pm)

      Charging cords are made with PVC and copper. High grade copper can be  scrapped for $3.00 per pound . My theory is the cord was stolen for drug money if it was vandalism the thief would have left the cord nearby. The war on electric vehicles is so new that even Google doesn’t know about it yet.  

    • The King November 23, 2022 (6:58 pm)

      Lol ……..war on ev cars. Somebody’s out of touch. Those burning barrels you see all over downtown aren’t so the homeless can stay warm, they’re burning the insulation off of stolen wires. 

  • Mj November 23, 2022 (5:21 pm)

    Eric1 – Agreed!

  • WS Guy November 23, 2022 (7:09 pm)

    This is either the work of an ultra-mega-MAGA far right EV hater or a looter thief looking for $30 of scrap copper.  Hmm, which could it be?

  • BlairJ November 23, 2022 (9:04 pm)

    I am picturing a bring-your-own-cord charging station design to avoid this.

    • 1994 November 23, 2022 (9:55 pm)

      Blair has a great idea. Bring your own cord to plug at both ends for charging your EV! The charging station plug will  open a little door for access when the user has paid their fee. A new small business development idea.

      • CAM November 23, 2022 (10:38 pm)

        Please also price in the security guards you’ll be providing at all charging stations 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to watch all those portable charging cables that can get up and walk away while the owners are out doing the things they do while their cars are charging. If you think bikes are easy to steal just wait. 

        • BlairJ November 24, 2022 (9:05 am)

          Shot down in flames!

  • audifans November 24, 2022 (8:47 am)

    Everything is being grabbed and messed with. I guess the joke would be if they gave themselves a good voltage shock when they started messing 

  • Sam November 28, 2022 (11:07 am)

    I just had my Honda Del Sol stolen on the 25th.  I’ve been going out looking for it in my free time, hoping to get lucky.  I’ll keep an eye out for the van too.Good luck, and be safe!

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