Seattle Fire crews sometimes have to call for police help. This morning at Delridge and Cambridge, it was because a fire engine was hit by theft. According to emergency-radio traffic, a chain saw was taken from Engine 37. The thief was described as driving a red or maroon GMC Yukon with chrome wheels. We’re following up with SFD to see if there’s any additional information. Earlier this summer, regional media reported on other theft incidents elsewhere in the city.
Oh, this headline too me a sec to comprehend. I thought a thief had “hit” as in impacted due to an automotive wreck with firetruck 37 and the firefighters had to call the cops to report the accident. It’s hit as in targeted for theft. I need more coffee.
Sorry, that occurred to me briefly while writing but we’ve been running around on various things today, standing on a road shoulder awaiting a news conference currently, less time than usual to think.
Now the thieves in this city are literally putting the rest of our lives at risk by stealing emergency equipment that could be needed at any moment due to an earthquake event. Within seconds of an earthquake, the SFD will wish they had 10X as many chainsaws on hand. Ill-equipped, even for an hour, emergency vehicles is clearly a line-crossed. These brazen criminals must be brought to justice far more frequently than they currently are. I have actually thought about buying a spike strip to throw out in my street if I see one of these street racers speeding down my street at 60mph just one more time. I happen to be within one block of two schools, and am one block removed from the closest arterial of any note. It is a quiet street with many pedestrians, children, seniors, and disabled folks. The insanity being displayed by the teens in stolen vehicles must end. If a car approaches my spot on this street at 60mph, and I have a spike strip, guaranteed I am tossing it out there. Know what else? No judge or court would say a word about it either, as I (we all do) have a right to protect others from dangerous and potentially deadly behavior….by a speeding vehicle or otherwise.
Do not do this. If you think the speeding is dangerous then you will be blown away by how much damage a vehicle rolling after hitting a spike strip can cause. I understand your frustration, but absolutely do not take this into your own hands. Spike strips are extremely dangerous even in the hands of properly trained police officers. You are also wrong about the courts, and will suffer significant legal repercussions especially if someone uninvolved is injured or killed.
Where in this scenario does my right to protect another life end? Self-defense also covers protecting the life and/or well-being of another whom is in imminent danger. If I throw said spike strip under a car recklessly going more than twice the posted speed limit, all while heading for a mom and child in a baby carriage at the far end of the block (did I mention the community center that is also one block away), I think a self-defense argument would prevent any criminal charges. As for civil liability, I think most juries in Seattle would be unsympathetic to the plaintiff should they (or their bereaved family) be foolish enough to sue in such a case. Frankly, in this purely hypothetical scenario, I couldn’t care less if they wreck before reaching the family at the end of the block, and I disagree that one would be held culpable in such a situation. Jury nullification would take care of all the technicalities. People are really, really tired of all this dangerous mayhem, and are ready to start dealing with problems more directly. I too believe we have arrived at that moment in time.
No, the definition of self defense if that it has to be you that you’re defending and the legal bar to be considered self-defense is pretty high. Not only do you need to personally be in imminent physical danger, the law also requires you to try other means of protecting yourself first and only using physical force as a last resort. Vigilante “justice” has no place in civil society. The last guy who spent his free time encouraging vigilantism on these message boards is sitting in prison right now, so maybe learn from that.
If you did a quick google search you would see that self defense law in Washington state actually does extend to people other than yourself. Not that throwing a spike strip under a moving vehicle is wise or legal. But nonetheless you are still in fact wrong in the assumption that one cannot defend another from assault or deliberate bodily harm in Washington state. (1) No person in the state shall be placed in legal jeopardy of any kind whatsoever for protecting by any reasonable means necessary, himself or herself, his or her family, or his or her real or personal property, or for coming to the aid of another who is in imminent danger of or the victim of assault, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, rape, murder, or any other violent crime as defined in RCW 9.94A.030.
Thieves like to steal pressurized water fire extinguishers so they can fill them with paint and use them to make 50 ft high graffiti on buildings and freeway retaining walls.
Thieves are getting so blatant. Today I went to Target in Westwood Village, as they are the only ones that have the item we needed. As I was walking in I saw a person who looked somewhat sketchy to me. He came in with a plastic bag from another store that already had some items in it. He went back to the food area, opened the bag, put a lot of prepackaged meat items, steaks etc. from a cooler display and then walked out the door without ever paying. Nobody even asked him if he paid for the items or not. The problem is, that in the end, you and I pay for those items. The store must increase prices on items we buy, to make up for the shortage/losses it suffers from thieves.
Haven’t you heard Alki Jack that all Target has to do is file an insurance claim for all of the stolen product. The insurance eliminates their losses so the store doesn’t need to raise prices! This is a win for everyone!!! At least this is what I’ve heard from those groups that support this activity… Obviously, my sarcasm isn’t focused towards you but those who condone this behavior.
Happens more than you know, Jack. Having worked in grocery I quickly became a cynic and wondered why anyone paid for a thing when policy was hands off. Oh, you’re going to fulfil your duty as an upstanding citizen and buy that sandwich with your hard-earned money? Thanks but that guy just stole hundreds of dollars of meat and his friend took all the tide pods to sell on the market.For years I watched the lack of moral consciousness grow and now do my best to stop it since I’m no longer prevented. The only way it ends is society stopping it since the businesses wont. Just call it out, and if they get embarrassed, they might not yet be hardened enough to continue.
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