WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Tony’s Market burglarized; 9th & Hennepin van stolen (update: found)

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two more small local businesses hit by crime:

TONY’S MARKET BURGLARIZED: We just heard from Tony’s Market proprietor Joey Genzale about this by phone. Overnight, someone broke into his business at 35th/Barton and got away with thousands of dollars in produce. Nothing else stolen, he told us – only the produce. The display boxes were left in disarray. He’s hoping somebody saw something – maybe a vehicle there late last night (he left around 9 pm) or early today? We’ll be following up on this tomorrow.

BUSINESS VAN STOLEN: This 1995 Ford Econoline van belonging to the proprietor of 9th & Hennepin Donuts was taken while he was at the commissary kitchen, a friend tells us on his behalf:

My friend Justin Newstrum is the owner of beloved 9th and Hennepin Donuts. His van, which is outfitted as a camper, was stolen while he was working at 5604 Delridge Way SW today. He’s currently making a police report.

Plate # is C14296S. (added) Police report # is 23-154959. Here’s an interior photo:

TUESDAY UPDATE: Thanks to a tip, the van’s been found.

BJG June 4, 2023 (9:45 pm)

C’mon! Is nothing sacred? Can’t the thieves at least leave our favorite produce stand alone? What creepy lowlifes! We are so sorry to see this, and on such a busy corner it would seem impossible not to notice it happening.

D-Mom June 4, 2023 (10:29 pm)

Not Tony’s!!! Please let us know if we can help in any way.

Ferns June 4, 2023 (11:10 pm)

Noooo, not Justin’s van. So unfair. His donuts are a gift to humanity. Hoping for a speedy recovery.

Bee June 4, 2023 (11:34 pm)

This is the lowest of the low honestly, I wish karma x thousand on these thieves.

CMB June 5, 2023 (4:33 am)

I had a cargo van stolen a few years ago. It was recovered 6 weeks later, drug dealers/users were living in it. The driver was arrested with 75 grams of meth inside. The van was a total loss and when I contacted the King County Prosecutor’s office to ask for an update on the prosecution they just shrugged and never followed up. Sadly crime victims are on their own.

anonyme June 5, 2023 (6:19 am)

I can’t for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to steal a bunch of fruit and veg. Even if it were some anarchist playing Robin Hood (which I highly doubt) why pick on a small family business? Humanity has passed its sell-by date.

Seattlite June 5, 2023 (1:19 pm)

Criminals have no boundaries and are not restricted as to who they commit crimes against. Criminals have no moral code and are sociopathic which means any of us at any time could be a victim.

Rob I June 5, 2023 (11:57 am)

It’s funny that these comments don’t understand why someone would steal food, our most basic necessity. Sucks, but very understandable. Also hardly the lowest of the low of crimes. I do hope he is made whole.

T Rex June 5, 2023 (3:29 pm)

Rob, I highly doubt that the person or persons who did this were starving, why would they make a mess? There are people who actually break into business just for the hell of it and because they can. Thousands of dollars of produce stolen or damaged is quite a bit. My guess is they were not simply looking for food.
- Seattlite June 5, 2023 (7:06 pm)
  
  Crime is all about opportunity. If the opportunity presents itself to a criminal, a crime will be committed.
Kersti Elisabeth Muul June 5, 2023 (3:57 pm)

I think what’s hard to understand is stealing that much. Hard to do anything with it but waste it
- Frog June 5, 2023 (10:03 pm)
  
  As rule of law gradually recedes, the “informal economy” will grow. Probably already there are back-of-the-truck produce markets that operate in places no one pays attention, or farmers’ markets or flea markets where they don’t ask questions about where the merchandise comes from. Tomatoes don’t have serial numbers.
flimflam June 5, 2023 (6:39 pm)

Rob, just stop it – there are countless foodbanks, free pantries, churches that feed people. No excuse for stealing – also, you think someone stole thousands of dollars worth of veggies to feed their family? I never understand apollogizing for criminals. I’ve been somewhat poor most of my life but i didn’t steal, skip paying rent/bills…

Juanita June 5, 2023 (12:49 pm)

I stopped by and picked up some produce there today. If anyone can swing by there and purchase stuff, it would help him out.

Monica June 5, 2023 (3:11 pm)

You are very naive. They are stealing it to sell not to feed themselves or others. Wake up.

waikikigirl June 6, 2023 (10:28 am)

Exactly as Monica states. two-men-arrested-for-stealing-8000-of-fruits-vegetables-from-local-produce-company

Brittany June 5, 2023 (8:11 pm)

Looks like the van might be down. On harbor ave

Justin June 6, 2023 (5:59 am)

Thanks for trying, Brittany, but I headed down there right after you posted and it wasn’t there. There were a couple that looked similar.after looking for a while, two distinct things that make it easy to tell from a distance- 1. no rooftop vent of any kind2. wheels are all black, no silver hubcaps.

Brenda June 6, 2023 (5:37 am)

I love Tony’s produce. I hope he has insurance to recover from this. I don’t want to see him close down. Besides buying produce, wish there was something else we could do

WSB June 6, 2023 (1:29 pm)

That’s what Joey told us was the most important thing people can do – keep shopping there – and also, if anyone saw anything, come forward!

Scarlett June 6, 2023 (7:45 am)

Speaking of thieves, save some of your scorn for the biggest thieves of all, companies that are protecting their profits and shareholder values by raising prices on Americans. Much of this alleged “inflation,” is simply corporate greed. This, however, might be a little akward for some holier-than-thou.

Gaslit June 6, 2023 (3:55 pm)

This is what you call a straw man argument or just straight up trolling. The business owners victimized here have nothing to do with your Mr. Robot-esque unhinged vision of the world. These are hard working people who deserve much better than what they received here.