WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Yet another crash-and-grab at Global Smoke & Vape

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

For the second morning in a row and fifth time in less than four weeks, crash-and-grab burglars have hit Global Smoke and Vape at 35th and Roxbury.

This time it happened just before 3:30 am. The shop owner shared that photo of the stolen Kia Optima used to crash into the storefront – the burglars (up to five people, according to early police reporting) left it at the scene before getting away in another car. A nearby resident sent us this photo of that:

Something we noticed while at the store a little while ago – the concrete wheel stop in front of the store had been moved:

According to a police-radio exchange, the Kia was stolen in North Seattle. Previous Global Smoke & Vape crash-and-grabs we’ve covered in the past four weeks were <August 26th, September 6th, September 13th. and yesterday,

Jeepney September 20, 2023 (8:05 am)

Bollards?

Marina September 20, 2023 (8:15 am)

This sounds like the same jerks who did the smash and grab at the smoke (pot?) shop earlier this morning in Rainier Valley, also with a stolen white Kia. Probably headed to WS next.

Mike September 20, 2023 (8:17 am)

Second morning in a row, fifth time in four weeks……….that level of frequency demands actual human surveillance. That this store and its owners are targeted is abundantly obvious. Continuing to make it so easy seems (insert best word). Can the property/shop owners commit to a security officer a few hours each night? Can’t the city increase patrols by there?

Taco September 20, 2023 (8:18 am)

These kids have a death wish. Sooner or later they will be caught and someone is going to get killed.

T Rex September 20, 2023 (2:54 pm)

You are correct Taco and they are not going to get a lecture. Or a GD hug.

Marco September 20, 2023 (8:23 am)

One of the < of the last link moved in front of the previous link 🙃

WSB September 20, 2023 (10:56 am)

Fixed, thank you.

NotSoSure September 20, 2023 (8:37 am)

Man what a bummer for this business owner. This reminds me of one of those situations like at work; if you want something done (cause police are not doing it) you just have to do it yourself (owner needs to beef up security/install barrier to stop vehicles from smashing the shop front).

Facts Matter September 20, 2023 (1:06 pm)

Who pays for that? Business owners already up to their eye balls in expenses – property rental/mortgage, quarterly revenue taxes to both state and city, employee salaries (including employee wage tax+ health insurance for full time employees), and pay in advance for products they sell. I would assume a store like this is already barely breaking even to make minimal profit. Our taxes are what is supposed to pay for security in the way of police, prosecutors, and judges upholding the law against criminals.

Gina September 20, 2023 (8:56 am)

Can anyone help to explain why this particular spot is experiencing repeat burglaries?

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy September 20, 2023 (9:56 am)

The puritans are coming for your vices!!! ;-)
RX September 20, 2023 (10:35 am)

Vape places get hit for the same reason people steal Tide and not saffron at Safeway, or Hondas not Porsches: they’re easy to fence. Stolen goods need to get turned into cash, so they steal what they can find a buyer for. Cheap nicotine has ample demand.
- Andros September 20, 2023 (4:03 pm)
  
  I know enough gourmet chefs to be able to fence saffron. Don’t give me any ideas. ;)
Jay September 20, 2023 (10:44 am)

Probably stealing vape juice to sell at middle and high schools. It’s crazy popular after Juul and other vape companies targeted kids with marketing for years and there’s a huge black market. 3% of middle school students and 14% of high school students are addicted to nicotine and regularly vape.

Matt September 20, 2023 (9:05 am)

It’s pretty clear to me at this point that there’s something personal going on here. Some beef with the owner, maybe. Probably some perceived slight — maybe owner caught them stealing in the past and this is their way of “getting back” — but you never know what else might be going on, I’m sure there’s more to the story here.

waikikigirl September 20, 2023 (9:06 am)

WTH?! Are these people grabbing the product sold there or is there a large amount of money kept on premise when closed? This is ridiculous and again I think they should keep trained guard dogs on premise but then again that could become fatal for the dogs..what can this (these) businesses do.

Brad Knife September 20, 2023 (9:17 am)

Hard-refreshed my browser because, for a second, I thought the site wasn’t updating from yesterday. yeesh.

Benjamin September 20, 2023 (9:20 am)

Infuriating, and unbelievable. 5 times in a month? They’re probably not going to make it. How many times can a small business endure that? I bet their insurance company is already on the verge of dropping them. My husband regularly says he’s worried about Cigar Land in the junction :(

IHeartBPP September 20, 2023 (9:27 am)

Is there any response from Seattle PD on this apparent crime spree? I’d like to know if they have detectives from the Major Crimes unit investigating whether these crimes are related.

DRW September 20, 2023 (9:35 am)

When can we reinstitute the pursuit law for SPD? This is getting ridiculous.

Just get some bollards September 20, 2023 (9:59 am)

Nothing in any of the articles suggest that cops were ever in a position to chase these folks.Property managers that do not install bollards in front of entrances that could be driven through are putting businesses and customers at risk. Home depot has bollard kits for 200$ a pop.Protect your property so there isnt opportunity and you will reduce crime.
- WTF September 20, 2023 (10:20 am)
  
  Yes, it’s definitely the fault of the business owner
  - Just get some bollards September 20, 2023 (12:09 pm)
    
    I said property owner. And yes, property crime comes down to not giving opportunities to steal your stuff.
    - Ex-Westwood Resident September 20, 2023 (1:57 pm)
      
      Bollards cannot be place in front of store fronts like that shop, unless they get a variance from the city because of the sidewalk.
      
      The bollards that are at HD are not going to stop a car from crashing through the store front. In order to do that, the bollards would have to be a minimum of 6′ long, buried 2′ to 3′ in ground in concrete filled holes and be at least 6″ to 8″ in diameter filled with concrete/rebar filled, or SOLID poles.
      
      The property owner is responsible to provide REASONABLE deterrents to protect his building.
      
      In the end, remember the old adage; Locks ONLY keep honest people, honest.
    - MW September 20, 2023 (3:16 pm)
      
      The opportunity is being provided by loose law enforcement. Seattle is learning the hard truth that what you reward you get more of.
- Facts Matter September 20, 2023 (1:14 pm)
  
  What makes you think the business owner has the funds available to spend $200 for the bollards, time to install or hire someone to do it? Since you are so knowledgeable why don’t you take the initiative and buy/install for the business. It’s your community too!

j September 20, 2023 (9:36 am)

Someone doesn’t like the shopper owner obviously. Maybe try some jersey barriers or a heavy steel Bullard or two should put a stop to this for the moment.

WSSpartan September 20, 2023 (9:38 am)

Tragic that it’s come to this but they should look into installing reinforced concrete bollards where the wheel stop was. The frequency of these smash and grabs around the peninsula and in surrounding areas is astounding and getting to be disheartening.

datamuse September 20, 2023 (9:43 am)

Do they have like, a personal beef with this store or something? It wouldn’t seem like there’d be anything left to take. :(

AdmResident September 20, 2023 (9:45 am)

5 times in 4 weeks has to be devasting for the shop owner. On top of that, that means 5 stolen cars are facing huge repair bills.Oh WSB – I think you have an HTML syntax error at the bottom of this article

BBP September 20, 2023 (9:46 am)

Good grief, what is there for them to take at this point? Those poor shop owners.

WSRez September 20, 2023 (9:47 am)

At some point it seems like it would be cheaper to hire armed security at night rather than pay for so many repairs. Even if covered by insurance, they’ll eventually drop the business if they have to keep paying out.

K September 20, 2023 (9:54 am)

Long past due to post someone at the store overnight.

Simple steps September 20, 2023 (10:02 am)

Need to put cement traffic blocks or cement planters in front of stores to prevent driving a car through. The planters would be a more pleasant looking preventative.

Jay September 20, 2023 (10:46 am)

This should be standard. There were already a lot of accidents where people with dementia or distracted drivers accidentally drive through storefronts thinking they’re in reverse or mixing up the brake and gas pedals.

Jeff September 20, 2023 (10:18 am)

You guys know concrete blocks and bollards cost a lot of money right. And you need permissions of landlord/building managers, permits, etc.

Simple Steps September 20, 2023 (12:07 pm)

Not nearly as much as continued glass repair, insurance premium increases or loss of coverage and other costs related to this type of theft. I kinda think the owner of the building would want to protect their property and would approve quickly.
- Just get some bollards September 20, 2023 (12:55 pm)
  
  Eco blocks cost 25$ from concrete recyclers.

flimflam September 20, 2023 (10:40 am)

How depressing this must be for the owners (here and other businesses effected by this strategy). The amount of crime that goes on without consequence is mind boggling.

ACG September 20, 2023 (10:47 am)

Oh my goodness. How terrible. I noticed Big 5 put in big bollards to prevent another crash and grab for their store. I hope the landlord can work with the businesses there to put some sort of impediment in place. I don’t vape, but I do use the other businesses in that building. They’ve all dealt with break-ins it seems.

WSRes September 20, 2023 (11:10 am)

I’d seriously weigh the emphasis a candidate places on law enforcement and criminal prosecution in our next election. Otherwise we can only expect this to get worse.

tim September 20, 2023 (11:29 am)

Either put in bollards, those huge concrete barriers, or park a big a$$ van in front. Sorry this happened. These punks are gonna get themselves killed. Stupid. Incredibly stupid.

JustSaying September 20, 2023 (5:55 pm)

I’m a progressive intervention vs incarceration sort of guy, but if I had a store that was hit more than once I’d be camping out with a shotgun — not to kill anyone but to send a serious message that the punks’ actions will have consequences. They clearly are not getting this message today.

HS September 20, 2023 (11:59 am)

It’s gangs. I’m imagine that the owner isn’t being targeted. It’s an easy product to turnover with a high profit and cool factor. I’d really like to see a return of the gang unit at SPD. Although I haven’t actually checked to see that it hasn’t already happened.

Barriers September 20, 2023 (12:50 pm)

Eco blocks until you can have huge bollards installed. I can’t imagine your insurance company will keep covering the losses if you don’t up your security.

Fed Up September 20, 2023 (1:26 pm)

The reality is these crimes are becoming more frequent & more brazen each month. Organized crash & grabs, carjackings, assault/robberies in what used to be considered “safer neighborhoods”. WSB is reporting these events almost every night, & that’s just in WS!!!

Probably even more concerning is the age of these hoodlums. They think it’s fun & easy & no consequences if they get caught. At what point do these begin to escalate into home invasions or serious injuries, especially when they know the police are overwhelmed?

This is a chronic, public safety issue … we need more police, we need stronger penalties than just one year of probation … & if you are a parent with a teenager, I hope to God you know EXACTLY where your child is at 3am.

brianna nicole September 20, 2023 (3:19 pm)

literally watched this happen . live right across the street .

neighbor September 20, 2023 (3:54 pm)

This isn’t exactly related to this incident, but speaks to the changed world we now live in regarding kids and violence becoming more commonplace.I just came back from Westwood Village where I noticed a few police cars and crowds of kids in the parking lot next to MacDonald’s. I asked a Target worker if he knew what was going on, and he immediately said it was kids fighting. I said “Really, kids fighting?”–it was mid-afternoon. He said yes, it happens all the time.

Alki resident September 20, 2023 (5:26 pm)

Folks the location of this shop is slightly secluded at night. The last smoke shop that was there was burglarized too hence it being gone. After the first robbery at this vape store, I went in months ago and suggested ways they needed to change things to avoid it happening again. They clearly weren’t interested and now this is the result. These guys seem young and not willing to put in the work to secure a business.

Targeting September 20, 2023 (6:22 pm)

The owner is being targeted because they’re Asian.

WSRes September 21, 2023 (10:09 am)

I think you’re right. They tried to break in again (#8) early this morning.

Peel and Press September 20, 2023 (6:35 pm)

I have a section of concrete jersey barrier at one of my businesses. I will give it to there poor folks. Just need someone who could help move it! It’s the same they use as a divider on the West Seattle Bridge. Does someone here have a flatbed with a crane?