WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen VW Westfalia camper van (update: found)

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL THURSDAY NIGHT REPORT: Another stolen van – this one, reported by Shawn:

Unfortunately I’m writing to request help in locating my Westy. She’s a 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van. Beige with a different-color left front corner. She has an ARB awning on the right side and black rims. Washington plates BGK2325. It was stolen by the Trader Joe’s from around 5 pm to 7 pm today. Her name is Gertie.

No police report # yet but call 911 if you see it.

3:49 PM FRIDAY: After all the sightings reported in comments (thank you!), Shawn just emailed to say Gertie has been found.

note May 2, 2024 (11:16 pm)

I saw a westfalia vanagon of a similar color driving up from delridge to the duck pond at high point. Was driving about a half block ahead of me. Westy turned right off Juneau onto 34th ave towards camp long. This was around 3:45pm.

Rick May 3, 2024 (6:40 am)

Try posting your westy on the “VanAlert” app.I recently helped a fellow owner reunite with his stolen westy after I saw his post on the VanAlert app.

Sarah May 3, 2024 (7:28 am)

Does it have one broken headlight? Saw a very similar one at 930 pm driven north on 36th sw at Juneau. Followed closely by a white Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows and showy rims. They seemed to be together.

Abel May 3, 2024 (7:57 am)

Can you send me the owners contact info so I can reach out and get some more info. I’ll send out an alert to our members to try to help locate it

Neighborino May 3, 2024 (9:06 am)

I saw the van running outside the entrance to camp long on 34th around 630-7pm. It was facing a white Yukon Denali with a dangling front bumper.

Neighbor May 3, 2024 (9:48 am)

Located it (with the sketchy white Yukon) on my street near Fairmount Park this morning and reported it.

WSB May 3, 2024 (10:44 am)

Hi, if it’s still there, can you please say where or consider emailing us so we can tell the owner? I pinged them to ensure they were checking this thread and they’re still out “looking in the area.” How fast police get to sightings depend on what else is going on (I did just hear them arriving at a different found stolen van somewhere in WS) … thanks … TR
- Neighbor May 3, 2024 (10:59 am)
  
  Yep – 36th SW north of SW Juneau.

Emily May 3, 2024 (11:45 am)

Hi – the van is actually right in front of my house at 32nd and Cloverdale. On the phone now reporting it to the police.

Another One May 3, 2024 (3:28 pm)

I really hope Gertie comes home ASAP. Also I would encourage anyone with a camp van to name it Beethoven.

NoreneElysium May 3, 2024 (3:30 pm)

This is great detective work! I’m so impressed with all you citizens. Please tell us Gertie made it back home again.

WSB May 3, 2024 (3:48 pm)

I just got a note from Shawn that Gertie has been found.
- Sarah May 3, 2024 (3:54 pm)
  
  Yay! So happy to see she was reunited with her owner!!

Thankful May 3, 2024 (3:53 pm)

Thanks to everyone who saw, commented, and kept their eyes peeled, my van(Gertie) has been recovered! Thank you to the friendly neighbors that I have met today and thank you to Tracy from the West Seattle Blog!

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