WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Thieves tow silver Lexus

This was a case of auto theft via tow, reports Madyline, who says this happened at 9th/Kenyon in Highland Park:

Our silver Lexus ES330 with a license plate number of BRG8989 was stolen last night. There are scratches along the passenger side doors and damage to the bumper. The car was parked near our mechanics and was not in running condition. They broke a window (broken glass along the road) and then force-towed the car (there are drag marks on the road). I’m assuming that they are going to try and scrap it, so I would love tips regarding where to call around about that. Also, the items of note on the car were an orange rain jacket, and a car-seat base. Please let us know if you find either of those items dumped.

The frame grab is from a video camera at the mechanic shop, Madyline adds, showing a black pickup towing the Lexus, and, “They also dumped a trailer that they had stolen. The report number is 23-125937.”

15 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Thieves tow silver Lexus"

  • Chris Stripinis May 9, 2023 (2:22 pm)

    Haven’t seen that method before.

  • Vanessa May 9, 2023 (3:39 pm)

    Our stolen vehicle was dumped after being painted and completely trashed for parts near West Crest Park. Somewhere in the woods(?) within our general community, they were able to completely trash, paint and dump our vehicle within 3 miles of our house. There are so many green spaces near us that we have no idea what is hidden and what is going on. 

    • Madyline May 9, 2023 (4:52 pm)

      How long did it take for your car to show up? Was anything left inside?

      • Vanessa May 9, 2023 (6:42 pm)

        3 weeks. The police called and said they had found it abandoned on a side street along  a wooded area. Undrivable. Can’t figure out how they even drove it that far. The inside was totally and completely trashed and torn apart. Anything that could have been sold for parts were ripped out. It was a 20 yr old Suburban, in really nice shape. 

      • Vanessa May 9, 2023 (7:38 pm)

        3 weeks. Inside totally trashed and ripped apart. 

  • Scrappy May 9, 2023 (10:28 pm)

    Ummm…. this makes no sense. I was walking my dog at 8AM and saw the Lexus parked between 12th Ave SW and 13th Ave SW on Kenyon. I saw the black pickup and two males trying to load the the Lexus onto a car dolly. I don’t know how the Lexus ended up there, since photo shows it in another location near the mechanics shop, but it was obvious these guys had NO idea what they were doing. They were scurrying around franticly, trying to get it loaded, and ended up dragging the car south-bound on 12th Ave SW. 

    • Madyline May 9, 2023 (11:03 pm)

      Dang, we should have walked down the road. We realized it was missing about 20 minutes after it was stolen. Is there any chance that you got a license plate number for the truck? The police are looking for witnesses because it was pretty brazen in the middle of the morning.

      • Scrappy May 10, 2023 (4:29 pm)

        Unsure if truck had plates. Sorry…

        • Madyline May 10, 2023 (4:42 pm)

          It looks like they didn’t! Two other people have seen the truck without plates. It would be too easy if they did, right?

  • Neighborhood K May 9, 2023 (10:46 pm)

    This looks to be the same truck that’s been posted on  Neighbors app involved in mail theft in late April and then car burglary a week ago. 

  • Cornelius T. Soudough May 10, 2023 (6:08 am)

    There was a similar ram truck acting suspicious on 18th ave Sw last week. A car had been parked on the street for several months. Once it was flagged for removal with a bright orange sticker these guys turned up scoping it out. I confronted one of the toothless men and he asked if I’d sell the car. That was a few days ago. Yesterday when I returned from travel I saw the car gone. To the best of my knowledge it looked like a 3500 truck with dark tints. No tag except the promotional “Legends Auto Sales”. 

  • Cogburn May 10, 2023 (9:09 am)

    Ought to be able to get the plate of the truck, which has been noted in at least on Ring camera post as stealing from cars, and go get them.  Probably a stolen truck though

  • Heather May 10, 2023 (9:35 am)

    The mechanics shop should have insurance coverage for vehicles left in their care, custody, and control.  Check with them, they are liable for the security of your vehicle.  In the future, do NOT leave your car at a mechanic shop that cannot lock your vehicle behind a gate or in the garage.  And if they fight you about the insurance, this is a tough lesson to learn. ALWAYS ask about insurance.  

  • Cornelius T. Sourdough May 10, 2023 (6:38 pm)

    If that’s not the same truck I saw on my block prowling then there’s an UNCANNY resemblance. Only tag I noted was from Legends auto sales. 

  • A Ross May 11, 2023 (6:09 am)

    This truck was parked outside my house on 5/10, has dealer plates. Thought the truck seemed suspicious for the area, it doesn’t appear to be here this morning.. I did see it parked on 20th facing the wrong way on thistle & a tweaker was rummaging through a champagne or silver  see the truck behind him? colored Lexus. When I took a photo he charged at me with a big stick, I drove off. 

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