WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another stolen/dumped car

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Reader photo)

Police have converged on another stolen Hyundai, crashed/dumped this past hour at 25th/Cloverdale.

(WSB photo)

Its occupants reportedly bolted and got into a white Kia that had been traveling with it, according to an earlier sighting on which police had been following up, a reported car prowl near 35th/Monroe in Gatewood. The white Kia was reported to be a different type from the white Kia in which Sunday’s Morgan Junction ATM robbers were traveling. No other descriptive details so far but be extra-watchful for suspicious activity, particularly involving those types of currently much-stolen cars.

Al September 11, 2023 (10:59 am)

Vehicle’s occupants were 3 black teens in black hoodies and masks, one carrying what looked like a submachine gun.

John September 11, 2023 (11:25 am)

I grew up six decades ago hiking, biking, camping and fishing. Now teens steal cars and run around with guns. WTFudge has happened?
- WSDUDEMAN September 11, 2023 (12:41 pm)
  
  It doesn’t have to be this way. More stick. Less carrot. Penalties for crimes need to be increased significantly….especially for gun crimes / illegal carry. Deterrence works. If you actually PUNISH criminals, their friends might think twice about engaging in such activity.
- Jay September 11, 2023 (2:16 pm)
  
  I think the joyriding crime wave started in the 70s and ended in the 90s with modern engine locks. Kia and Hyundai messed up big time using 70s era ignition locks to save money.
  - WW Resident September 11, 2023 (3:25 pm)
    
    The 70s joy riding crime wave? Way to upsell that in order to downplay the actual crime wave of these POS stealing cars at a break neck pace, rob people at gun point, threaten people, chase people, play bumper cars with stolen cars, wreck said stolen cars into parked cars, dump cars haphazardly, drive them off small cliffs and who knows what other crimes committed.
    - dzag September 11, 2023 (5:36 pm)
      
      Agreed with WW Resident, blaming the victim of crimes is the wrong approach. The people who bought these kias had no idea during their purchase there was a problem, but his is beside the point. With an upcoming election we must support the candidates who support the victims and believe in law enforcement and consequences for these crimes
Joe September 11, 2023 (12:00 pm)

Sounds like the same kids or a few groups of kids are doing this over and over. Destroying peoples’ property for a quick thrill. Someone’s is going to get seriously injured or killed.
Michael Phelps September 11, 2023 (5:07 pm)

Just saw the same kids steal a Kia from the Safeway on admiral about 30 minutes ago. Probably the same crew that rammed into my car last week
- Danimal September 11, 2023 (10:59 pm)
  
  Michael. Did you call 9-1-1?
  - Michaelphelps September 12, 2023 (8:57 am)
    
    Yep. Never got a follow up other than a text with an incident number

Harvey September 11, 2023 (11:47 am)

Yesterday, during mid-day, a black Kia doing 50mph and driving recklessly down 35th Ave passed me and made a sharp left onto Graham. No license plates, damage to passanger side door, and one occupant. I can only assume this was stolen and driven by the perp. It’s an epidemic of crime with these Kia/Hyundai robberies. Stay safe out there.

Gatewood September 11, 2023 (12:50 pm)

This morning there was a cop behind a parked empty Grey Kia on 35th gatewood area. Why so many incidents in gatewood and surrounding areas? Do these kids live in the area?

WW Resident September 11, 2023 (3:21 pm)

No, there’s a lot of dumped cars in Westwood too

FedUp September 11, 2023 (1:08 pm)

At what point do we start holding Kia owners responsible for this ongoing chaos? The manufacturer has offered “software upgrades” (whether that deters theft is TBD) and steering wheel locks are being handed out like candy on Halloween. If you own a Kia you should be taking any and all measures to ensure some little a-hole isn’t out joyriding in your car and committing crimes with it.

Wookietoes September 11, 2023 (2:30 pm)

Sorry, but that’s a crazy statement. Are you really saying car owners are responsible for the terrible behavior of teenagers?
- Math Teacher September 11, 2023 (5:33 pm)
  
  Not crazy at all. If you left a gun unlocked and in plain site on the seat of your car, and it is stolen by a teenager and the teenager then kills someone, you’d certainly bear some responsibility. Kias are being stolen and used to commit terrible crimes; I think Kia owners have responsibility to consider drastic steps such as carrying the battery inside when you park the car.
  - J September 12, 2023 (7:10 am)
    
    Truly disgusting that commenters for one second would even consider to blame the victims of these crimes!! It’s truly revolting and speaks volumes to the mindset of society when now victims are suddenly being viewed as the problem!
  - WS Resident September 12, 2023 (6:03 pm)
    
    “carrying the battery inside when you park…”That is the most delusional thing I’ve heard in a long time.
Peter September 11, 2023 (3:06 pm)

Just like people who are robbed need to be held accountable. If the weren’t carry cash or any other valuables then they wouldn’t be robbed!! Why are the people who are robbed being held accountable for what the robbers do with the stolen items?! It’s outrageous!!
- Le Chat Noir September 11, 2023 (4:01 pm)
  
  Your comment almost made me blow the sip of coffee I just drank out of my nose!!
Harvey September 11, 2023 (3:19 pm)

The Kia dealers are backlogged right now. So I’m sure most drivers would love to get their car fixed, but simply can’t due to the backlog. Also, you are blaming the wrong folks.
- FedUp September 11, 2023 (3:48 pm)
  
  Plenty of free steering wheel locks being handed out in the meantime.
  - WSB September 11, 2023 (5:36 pm)
    
    The SPD giveaway is not happening currently. They had two rounds, two sessions each.

Denden September 11, 2023 (2:21 pm)

Sounds like the same group who was in front of my workplace. 2 white KIAs. 5 occupants in one car (the one abandoned in this article) and 1 in the other. They circled around a parked KIA. I, like a fool, approached the one occupant and asked if he needed help. The other car pulled in front of me and announced they were going to steal the car and asked if I had a problem with that! When I told them it was my boss’s car they asked if he had insurance and said “You can get a new car.” They then left the scene saying they would be back.Scarry times.

Danimal September 11, 2023 (11:01 pm)

Did you call 9-1-1?

Derp September 11, 2023 (2:30 pm)

My opinion, when are we going to hold these dead beat parents responsible for the crimes their underage delinquents are causing. Talk about poor parenting. If we had done any of these things when we were younger, our parents would not take to kindly. One of these crashes happened in my driveway last week. Got really lucky there wasn’t much damage, but someone is going to get seriously hurt by these wannabe thugs.

TJ September 11, 2023 (9:23 pm)

I agree, especially since it seems like the same few teens are stealing over and over. The police need to set up a sting to catch them or some kind of operation. Something tells me that even arresting and charging five of these kids would cut down the number of thefts significantly because they are likely being done by the same group.

Le Chat Noir September 11, 2023 (3:42 pm)

I live at 25th and Cloverdale; ‘just another day in the neighborhood.

FUKiaBoyz September 11, 2023 (4:57 pm)

My Hyundai was stolen in March. The police did nothing when it was found. Didn’t look in it, didn’t fingerprint it. Just called the tow truck and took it to impound. The backlog is so bad at every repair shop in Western Washington it took 4 months to find a repair shop willing to take it. Only to find that it would need an estimated $20k in repairs. Not to mention, it was deemed a biohazard because they found some type of drug pipe inside it. State Farm let it sit in their impound lot and never had a human look at it until I asked several times. Still drastically wrong with their estimate. They still missed the drugs and let me take it home, when it should have never left their lot. I don’t wish that ordeal on anyone. I have since bought another car that is not a Kia or Hyundai and I have my finger crossed.The cherry on top: I was 9 payments away from paying that car off when they took it.

Pauline September 13, 2023 (12:09 am)

Even if you don’t have a KIA, Hyundai…be cautious. There’s young white teen in hoodies smashing windows! Opening trunks! Aiming to just take item/tools/equipment…. Especially before 5 am! I know because camera capture going behind blackberry bushes attempt to look for park truck (luckily our other car took it spot)…on same day neighbor car was a target! :/ smashed windows and personal belongings stolen. I got curious and drove around neighborhood…on same day few cars broken into. Just odd coincidences on same day tbh

Sorry, comment time is over.