WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Home burglarized

A reader reports their home was broken into between 3:30 and 4:20 pm Thursday, February 1. It happened in the 2400 block of Myrtle, a block off Delridge. The victim explains, “Our neighbor’s security camera caught this footage of 3 men walking out of our driveway (his footage is about 28 minutes behind the actual time) … The gray/silver minivan was waiting for the 3 men, all dressed exactly the same.” They appear in the distance in the upper left of the video around :16 in:

The minivan then headed west on Myrtle toward Delridge. The victim adds, “They used a crowbar to open the front door and stole cash and jewelry, mostly family items not replaceable. I am usually home during this time and ran a random errand, so it seems like they were really watching as the window was very small, or they had a stroke of great luck with timing!” The SPD report number is 24-30292.

LyndaB February 4, 2024 (1:02 pm)

I’m sorry to hear this happened to you.

Neighbor February 4, 2024 (1:57 pm)

Sorry to hear this, and glad no one was harmed. Did you have someone do any service to your home the days leading up to the burglary? I.e. Internet, window cleaning, plumbing, any installation of any kind? Usually these well-timed burglaries happen because the culprits know what they are after and know how to get in easily. Not saying this helps but perhaps there could be a connection to other burglaries of other homes who had similar services recently done.

937 February 4, 2024 (3:56 pm)

Way to throw some shade at service workers. Guess being blue collar is cause for suspicion ’round these parts.
- Suzanne February 4, 2024 (6:34 pm)
  
  I didn’t take it that way at all. There are certainly some shady service people, just as there are excellent ones. To avoid the unscrupulous ones, always use licensed/bonded/insured folks by checking WA Labor and Industries website — https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/. 
- Neighbor February 4, 2024 (11:33 pm)
  
  I am a service worker myself – a home chef. No shade thrown anywhere. We were burgled years ago and it turned the Verizon installation service person in DC was in cahoots with a group of burglars…. That is all.
Mel February 4, 2024 (6:32 pm)

I don’t think this is accurate. My husband (a police officer) has been to many burglaries. I can’t recall one he’s told me about that involved a service worker returning to the person’s house to burglarize it.
- Al King February 5, 2024 (5:56 am)
  
  Many years ago, coworker had her checks stolen. A HUGE hassle getting resolved. When police detective figured it out it was the mailman who normally delivered to her house and his girlfriend who worked at the bank that were the culprits. Moral of the story: Bad people work everywhere, every company.
- Katie February 5, 2024 (1:29 pm)
  
  It happens. A few years ago and my house was burglarized. The police linked the burglary to the third party delivery crew, hired by HomeDepot, delivering and installing my washer and dryer.
Kirch February 4, 2024 (7:36 pm)

We have not actually – my husband is a contractor and we usually end up doing all of that ourselves. We had not had anyone unknown in our home or any type of service done. The worst part is that you start to feel suspicious of everyone – which we don’t want to do. We don’t want to think the worst of people. But they did seem to know what they were looking for – and were in and out very quickly. The timing in the middle of the day is just so strange. I got home 10 mins after the van pulled away – so it could have been much worse had I walked in. Thanks for the comments.
- Amy February 6, 2024 (12:08 pm)
  
  I walk past your house daily to catch the bus on Delridge and I’m shocked at how long and out of the way your house is off the road that they were so casually walking back down the driveway.

WW Resident February 4, 2024 (4:31 pm)

Sounds like these people knew exactly what they were going for

WSCurmudgeon February 5, 2024 (12:01 pm)

Kirch, you don’t say it directly, but it seems clear that you think this was in some way “an inside job.” It seems that the perps had your place under surveillance, came while you were out, found your cash and valuables which were not easily seen in your house, and took off after only a few minutes.

That there were three men is unusual. If there was in fact a large quantity to carry, that suggests they had detailed inside info.

Since you are in the contacting business, if you pay any of your workers in cash, anyone who has been paid in cash could guess you have cash on hand before a payday.

As to jewellery: have you scheduled it on your insurance? The staff at the agency knows it’s likely in your house. Have you had it appraised, cleaned, or repaired? The jewelers know.If you use social media, think about whether any postings you’ve made could have tipped off the thieves.

Sorry to write this, but think about your extended family. Are there any members who you know or suspect may be using drugs?

I’m sorry that you experienced this.