WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 4 business burglaries

6:01 PM: SPD is looking for information on what it says were four early-morning West Seattle business burglaries in the past three days. All involved burglars cutting open the businesses’ safes. Around 6 am today, an alarm brought officers to Taco Time (SPD photo at right), where they “found a smashed window (and a) safe … (that) had been cut open, and staff confirmed money stored in the safe had been taken.” The other three burglaries are listed as all happening Sunday morning (April 23rd):

4:30 a.m. in the 4200 block of SW Morgan Street
5:00 a.m. in the 4700 block of Fauntleroy Way SW
6:00 a.m. in the 2600 block of SW Barton Street

SPD says that in all three cases, “the safes had been accessed with some sort of saw as well.” If you have any information, SPD’s tipline is 206-233-5000.

6:24 PM: SPD’s report didn’t include business names; we are going back through archived dispatch audio. First ID: The 4200 block of SW Morgan burglary was at Ezell’s Famous Chicken. (added) So far we haven’t heard any more specific information on the other two locations except that they were businesses at The Whittaker and Westwood Village.

Bmc April 26, 2023 (10:00 pm)

Love this Taco Time – hope whoever crawled through that window was cut to shreds – ugh

LAsandy April 26, 2023 (11:17 pm)

To shreds you say

Lisa April 26, 2023 (10:59 pm)

I am so disheartened by what has become of our neighborhood and this city. It makes me sad to say but every day I’m one step closer to leaving.

Josh April 27, 2023 (3:41 am)

Even if it were actually getting any more rugged people who would rather whine and bail when things get rough rather than step up to make it better will not be missed. This city could use a little room for more Keiths and fewer Lisas. Let me know if you need recommendations on places to move to.
Wsresident April 27, 2023 (7:03 am)

I agree. I never in a MILLION years thought I would ever consider leaving this area but it’s getting to a point that I can’t leave the house without seeing a severely mentally Ill/potentially dangerous person and this week I’ve seen at least three groups of people in doorways huddled up either smoking crack or shooting heroin. I’m no prude to city life I grew up in NY but West Seattle is beginning to feel like less of a place I want my child roaming around on their own. It’s disheartening! Even being involved in politics, nothing is changing. Lots of big ideas, lots of meetings no action. The city isn’t the same place it was before Covid and the empty storefronts in the junction also just break my heart. The crime against business alone in WS is just horrible.
alkiannie April 27, 2023 (7:43 am)

Lisa, is it better other places? I’m hearing addiction and related crimes are high everyone – even small towns.
Reed April 27, 2023 (10:07 am)

Curious as to where you would go if you were to leave? Crime is up everywhere, even “law and order” conservative cities and states.
- Lisa April 27, 2023 (10:34 am)
  
  @Reed – to a country where guns are not so available and I don’t feel fear simply walking out my door.
  - Reed April 27, 2023 (11:05 am)
    
    @Lisa fair point; the gun issue is a uniquely American problem.
- Jeff April 27, 2023 (10:50 am)
  
  As someone that has (mostly) made peace with the tradeoffs associated with city living, it’s pretty disingenuous to claim there is nowhere better on crime. Plenty of rich boring suburbs exist with gated subdivisions (if you can afford them) and if you live far enough in the boonies you can absolutely avoid day to day nuisance crime (nobody is going to sleep off their alcohol in your yard when it’s a ten mile walk from the store they shoplifted it from). Both of those options have plenty of strikes against them as well, and like I said on balance I’m happy living right in the junction. On a wider societal level you are probably right. Crime is going up all over the place. But for an individual with resources, it is absolutely something that can be moved away from and it’s intellectually dishonest to pretend otherwise.

1994 April 26, 2023 (11:11 pm)

I hope these creepers were caught on a camera somewhere and they will be apprehended soon! Up to no good! The Praetorians can’t get here soon enough.

LG April 27, 2023 (12:05 am)

I think the Fauntleroy business was MOD Pizza, I used to work for mod and I heard about it from people I know.

Vanessa April 27, 2023 (10:43 am)

Does West Seattle have no, or next to none, Police officers in Police cars, patrolling our business districts and neighborhoods? I know we have a huge shortage of Police Officers, and maybe that is simply the answer to my question. Or do we just have Police come when someone calls 911? Be kind in your answers and comments or I will call the police.

Resident April 27, 2023 (12:49 pm)

Police shortages are a very small part of the problem. The bigger issue is once someone is arrested, they are let out of jail the next day to repeat these “no victim” crimes.There are victims of every one of these crimes. The business owners, their families, their insurance, their time, their employees time, my money paying more for their products due to higher insurance, etc.Every crime has a victim. Every victim deserves compensation. Those that commit these crimes and those that turn a blind eye in the name of equity and empathy are the problem here. Don’t normalize theft, property destruction and criminal behavior. We can do better.
Good Neighbor April 27, 2023 (2:10 pm)

For a good time you might try googling, “Do police prevent crime?”

WTF April 27, 2023 (10:37 pm)

Remember how nice West Seattle was during the pandemic?

K April 27, 2023 (11:29 pm)

You mean when they installed all of those robo camera surveillance things in the parking lots of all of the stores because of the crime?