WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Street robbery; apparently abandoned bicycle

Two reader reports:

STREET ROBBERY: Sent on behalf of a neighbor:

I wanted to let you know of a mugging/robbery at about 6:30-7pm Christmas Eve so others are aware. Began on 32nd Ave SW (backside of Roxhill Elementary schoolyard), when a female pedestrian walking to look at holiday lights noticed a white four-door sedan suspiciously following her. Several people in the car. After she turned east onto Holden, she noticed the car paused at stop sign. Feeling like they were watching her, she bolted into alley between 32nd and 31st to evade. Car did not follow into alley, but as she walked south toward Kenyon, the car appeared and turned into the alley, blocking her exit.

Male passenger jumped out of car, blocking her way, wearing a gorilla mask. He grabbed her scarf and arms/hands. Wired headphones were pulled from her head, phone grabbed, and other things in her hands. She started screaming, tore away, and ran down the street and hid in someone’s yard. When she ran away, the car was in the alley at Kenyon pointing north (the direction of Holden), but she does not know where the car went after that.

Male wearing gorilla mask seemed younger (adult or older teen), slim build, maybe 5’9” but no additional information. She said male driver had longer dark hair, pulled back in what appeared to be locks but could not recall specific race or ethnicity, or license plate details. She reported it to SPD last night.

As someone who lives in that neighborhood, we have heard of other experiences of cars following closely in the morning when walking dogs, and have seen ourselves cars of young men speeding up threateningly to scare us when we crossed the street.

If you have any information on this incident, the SPD case number to reference is 23-368963.

APPARENTLY ABANDONED BICYCLE: Seen in The Junction:

In front of this building on 44th SW [4500 block], possibly stolen and dumped.

16 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Street robbery; apparently abandoned bicycle"

  • 1994 December 25, 2023 (10:05 pm)

    This sounds really frightening and creepy! I am sorry this happened to the lady out enjoying holiday lights.  These guys need to  respect others and stop with the terrorism. 

  • Do NOT Win A Darwin Award December 26, 2023 (2:52 am)

    This is terrible! I’m glad she had some awareness of her situation! There are times I felt like I was being followed and was very correct to feel as such. I hid or ran my butt straight to the police station.

  • Terry Demarco December 26, 2023 (8:46 am)

    I have seen that happen in the Safeway parking lot near the Bowling Alley and at the Westwood bus stop.  Situational awareness is one thing but being stalked by a car with men holding guns is another.   

    • Jethro Marx December 26, 2023 (12:09 pm)

      How did you add a gun to this report?

  • Tracey December 26, 2023 (9:53 am)

    Man.  That is close to home and very frightening.  I used to feel safe walking after dark in my neighborhood but not lately.  This confirms it.   I had hoped to check out the lovely holiday lights featured here at 32nd and Kenyon.  I will take a pass or maybe just drive by. I hope the lady in the story recovers from this trauma.  

  • Neighbor December 26, 2023 (10:51 am)

    Also close to home for me. A car full of men blocking you in the alley then a masked man grabbing something around your neck and restraining your hands is terrifying. I’ve also been followed a few times by different vehicles as I’ve been walking home (both late afternoon and night). I will report in the future.

  • Chris December 26, 2023 (11:09 am)

    We have a friend who walks early every morning.   He had a car following him on California Ave near Admiral a few days ago.   They were slowly going along on the other side of the street pacing him.   He just kept walking & walks quite fast.    We all need to be aware of our surroundings & watchful at all times.   Carrying a phone in our hand, or using the phone, & it looks like ear buds seems to also make us a target these days.    We know several who carry air horn alarms in their coat pocket which can be easily & quickly reached.   Please be careful out there, especially when dark.

    • CarDriver December 26, 2023 (12:29 pm)

      Chris. I walk early too. What time is your friend out walking?

  • Naturally December 26, 2023 (12:09 pm)

    I have a personal alarm that you can buy on Amazon. It has a handle with a pin that you pull out from the device and throw it anywhere so the alarm cannot be shut off by perpetrators….. I was in the parking lot of a grocery store and was being approached in a way I felt very uncomfortable about so I PREVENTIVELY Pulled the pin to make the alarm go off  (I kept the handle and pin in my hand so I could put it right back in since I wasn’t in immediate threat) and that guy immediately went the other direction away from me.  so you may want to have this type of device and if you feel someone’s around that makes you uncomfortable simply set off the alarm.  It’s better than being harmed….. they also sell one that has a strobe light that you could face towards an attacker(most effective at night) where they could not see while the alarm goes off. Pay attention to decibel levels because a vary.  You can buy plenty of these at a cheap price and keep them on your keys and in your car and in your pocket.

  • Rhonda December 26, 2023 (12:53 pm)

    Ladies, if a car full of males is ever following you as a pedestrian don’t wait for the likely attack. Run, scream LOUDLY (“fire” will get people headed your way fast), run into a front or back yard of a random house, enter a business or apartment complex, pick up a large rock or stick, etc. Make yourself a difficult target or make as much commotion and noise as possible if you’re in an area with residences or open businesses around. These urban terrorists are cowards and want easy, vulnerable, quiet victims and to make a quick getaway. This is why they rarely attack large men.

    • Jort December 27, 2023 (10:13 am)

      “Urban terrorists!” That’s a new one! Wow! We can’t just call people “criminals” anymore, I guess. We just have to reach back into the halcyon days of right-wing power consolidation around the spooky boogeyman of “terrorism.” I love how we’re just casually throwing really incendiary words like “terrorist” around. Street mugging are now “terrorism,” apparently!! Terror attack! Threat level Orange! Terror alert cable news ticker time! Do you think they hate us for our freedoms?! Never forget. 

      • Rhonda December 27, 2023 (2:57 pm)

        Yes, Jort, urban terrorists. They use fear, stalking, the element of surprise, and prey on innocent victims in the shadows of a densely-populated area. And, yes, the mostly-female victims are TERRORIZED. These punks don’t have the guts to rob large men in broad daylight, just as terrorists don’t attack hardened targets with prior warning.

  • Jim Hansen December 26, 2023 (4:09 pm)

    I saw a group of men rob   several people at the boat launch in August in the middle of the day. It was shocking.

  • poppins December 26, 2023 (8:47 pm)

    They say do EVERYTHING you can to escape an apparent dangerous situation before it evolves and is bad. 

  • Debi December 27, 2023 (8:05 am)

    I’m not sure I understand the point of stealing a phone these days. It’s trackable and when marked as lost, it alerts the owner and isnt useable or am I missing something – is it that most people don’t have a way to report it as lost? Is it still able to be pawned?

    Regardless, that’s terrifying and I’m sorry it happened to this woman. I like the alarm tip and will look into that. Thank you

  • Kato December 27, 2023 (8:56 am)

    The bike was dumped by a homeless man. Saw him going through my dumpster. He had the bike at this time. When he left he was heading towards the junction. I live by Holy Rosary. 

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