WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another Junction business burglary

1:48 PM: This time, burglars hit By and By, the skateboarding/apparel shop that opened a little over a year ago on the ground floor of the Senior Center of West Seattle. Proprietor Tony emailed us to report:

Around 3 am, 3 intruders were able to smash their way into the store and steal our cash register along with clothing and skateboards.

We have since gotten our door fixed and in progress of securing the store even more.

Police have the footage from our cameras of the theft in action.

We believe we will be able to open up for regular business hours tomorrow.

We’ve asked if he can share any image(s) from the security video. This is on the same block where Menashe & Sons Jewelers was damaged by a crash-and-grab burglary attempt on Christmas Eve morning. Also in The Junction, the door at Cherry Consignment – about two blocks north – was damaged in a break-in attempt overnight Saturday/Sunday. (Added: And as we’re reminded in comments, Junction True Value was burglarized New Year’s Eve.)

6 PM: Tony has since sent these security-camera images:

We asked if there were any particular items people might look for, whether dumped or put up for sale somewhere: “They stole a lot of our store-branded clothing as well as jackets and women’s clothing. Nothing that could really be that specific or different. There was a skateboard with a Le Petite Prince graphic on it.”

17 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another Junction business burglary"

  • Vee January 16, 2023 (2:21 pm)

    That’s awful,  wish there were enough police to patrol at night and early hours

  • Rebecca January 16, 2023 (2:28 pm)

    Don’t forget about True Value On New Years eve.

    • WSB January 16, 2023 (3:42 pm)

      Sorry, added that link too.

  • Carson January 16, 2023 (4:49 pm)

    As a side note I have noted on my very early morning runs that the former Swedish now has overnight security. It looks like the windows were tagged from the inside.  When does the junction hire a security guard for overnights?

    • Vee January 16, 2023 (7:38 pm)

      They have security during days too

    • Johnny January 16, 2023 (7:53 pm)

      The Junction doesn’t have the money to do this because most of its funds go to paying down the tax bill on those three parking lots.

  • Yony January 16, 2023 (5:00 pm)

    VERY sorry to hear this 🛹👟👕❤️

  • mw January 16, 2023 (5:46 pm)

    Raise the minimum wage to $21/hr and you’ll have plenty of police and lack of crime

    • Wseattleite January 17, 2023 (1:21 pm)

      You misspelled massive inflation. 

  • WSDUDEMAN January 16, 2023 (6:55 pm)

    Why do all of these camera screen grabs look like they are images from a Motorola Razr circa 2005? Terrible news either way…what is the running tally of Junction businesses that have now been burglarized in the last few years. This is nuts. And incoming….the voices that claim this is just ‘part of living in a city’ and that ‘police don’t deter crime’. 

    • Scarlett January 17, 2023 (9:06 am)

      Police don’t deter this sort of property crime and they never will.   They haven’t in the past and there is no reason to believe they will in the future.  This is a fantasy. 

      • WSDUDEMAN January 18, 2023 (2:33 pm)

        Scarlett. You are correct. It’s just a coincidence we are experiencing a rash of burglary / smash grabs in the Junction and elsewhere. It’s also just a random coincidence I have experienced multiple shootings, drug deals, fights and overdoses next to my house ever since the Police department has overtly stated they are understaffed.

  • OneTimeCharley January 16, 2023 (8:06 pm)

    I don’t think we will see any more significant improvement until the state sanctioned (apparently) chop shop/circus of crime is evicted from their years-old compound under the 1st Ave S. bridge.

  • aa January 16, 2023 (9:18 pm)

    I wonder, is this strip of the junction is getting known for easily accessed businesses because they are older buildings without the most up to date security systems? Maybe they need to install stronger glass for windows and doors, roll out fenced gates for after hours.   I’m not saying its the businesses fault, more so that these buildings have not had to withstand this level of violence and destruction before and it’s unfortunately time for store owners to protect their businesses by updating the window, doors, and security systems.  It’s expensive, it shouldn’t have to be this way, it sucks, and its true.   New York City businesses have had those roll out gates for decades.   People rally for go fund me accounts all the time, maybe there is a way to fundraise money to help shops upgrade.

    • SR January 16, 2023 (11:24 pm)

      I’ve also wondered why storefronts don’t have metal roll shutters, not just in the Junction but in Seattle generally. Security shutters are the norm in many cities around the world, and not necessarily ones with high crime. It may be unattractive but they’d only be seen after hours.

  • wow January 17, 2023 (9:13 am)

    Wow, looks like they’re having a great time “shopping”, not a care in the world!

  • J January 18, 2023 (8:56 pm)

    I agree with SR. I have lived in Paris and Florence and every night you can hear the metal security shutters closing and opening every morning. If a tiny business in Florence can afford it, can’t businesses here? And if their insurance won’t credit them for it, why aren’t they? If I were a young entrepreneur I’d start  a company selling security shutters for businesses. We need those far more than yet another useless app.

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