WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Lampshade-wearing package thief; repeat car prowls

| Crime | West Seattle news

From both ends of West Seattle, reader reports in Crime Watch:

THE PACKAGE THIEF WORE A LAMPSHADE: From Lisa:

I just arrived home to see that the Dyson headphones I ordered on Amazon were delivered and left on my front porch where the person in this video promptly stole it (three minutes after the delivery) I live on 14th & Trenton. I’ll be reaching out to Amazon to find out why they would leave something that expensive and will be filing a police report.

NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWL #1: Dave reports this happened early Tuesday: “Around midnight, a few cars on my block (SW Grayson between 50th and 51st) were rifled through. SPD responded pretty quickly and said that nearby blocks might have been targeted too. Thanks to two of my neighbors who heard noises, chased the people off, and called 911. SPD incident number is 2024-306519.”

MORE NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLS: Then at least two more happened on Tuesday night. This is from Troy:

Over the past three weeks our neighborhood (Palm Ave SW) has been targeted by car prowlers and prowlers on foot. All of these thefts are extremely brazen and increasingly early and early in the evening (10:00 pm). We are trying to put together a neighborhood meeting to discuss hiring private security and or civilian watches throughout the evening hours.

Prowled in Admiral November 1, 2024 (5:03 am)

Our car was prowled last Thursday but they didn’t take anything just rifled through stuff and made a mess. Near 48th and Stevens.

WSRN November 1, 2024 (7:57 am)

I live near 17th and Cloverdale, and had packages, a bicycle, and our truck stolen within a 6 month time period. There’s nothing Amazon will do for stolen packages- they fulfilled their responsibilities by shipping it to the address you selected. They provide pickup options, and that’s the only way to ensure you will get your package- it’s just an inconvenience.

Amazon has to release packages with a signature November 1, 2024 (9:01 am)

when it’s that expensive unless the purchaser waived that.
Jane November 2, 2024 (10:42 am)

HelloI live in an apartment complex and my Amazon package was delivered. I opened the door to get my package. It was stolen. I contacted Amazon and they gave me a credit for the package. Get a hold of the customer service manager. I hope this helps.Good luck

Question Authority November 1, 2024 (8:46 am)

Even though I only use Amazon 2-3 times per year I always use the locker kiosk near me as thieves suck.

Secure Locker November 1, 2024 (9:17 am)

And this is why Amazon drivers always take a picture of the delivered package … … at the location YOU SELECTED. Not their fault. For all they know, you could claim the package was stolen, get a refund, & enjoy your free stuff … they’re not stupid.

Lola November 1, 2024 (10:56 am)

Except for when Amazon leaves it at the wrong door and you have to go hunting for what house they actually left it at? I had a Fed X driver leave a package on my back fence as he could not find 51st Pl SW. I drove the pkg up to the person’s house which was two blocks up and told them what the driver had done.

Derp November 1, 2024 (9:37 am)

Not sure why you would call Amazon, you are the one that shipped it to your house.

Bill#1 November 2, 2024 (5:24 pm)

The voice of sanity and realistic realism — Thank You!

Westsidegirl November 1, 2024 (9:41 am)

I think it might be a good idea for multiple people in your neighborhood to purchase what is called a game camera.(regretfully they are used to spot things like deer and elk so hunters can come back and kill them…..unfair advantage) they have camouflage exteriors and are waterproof and battery operated. They do low light and are motion detection activated. They run on batteries and can be strapped to a tree. That way you can position the cameras (hidden from view) closer to the sidewalk and get actual faces to look at. Then post faces on the blog or phone poles and see who knows these people or sees them around.

Neighbor November 2, 2024 (5:40 pm)

You could use a game camera or any of the smart doorbells that do exactly the same thing.

herculese einstein November 1, 2024 (9:42 am)

Was there any cocktail parties happening nearby?

Pelicans November 1, 2024 (4:47 pm)

My exact thought when I first saw the thief.Sorry you lost your stuff. My ongoing instructions to Amazon are to ring the buzzer and physically hand the package to a person at our address. They follow that almost every time because there is always someone home to answer. If we didn’t have that, I’d definitely have packages delivered to an Amazon locker about 2 miles away at a grocery store.
Zipda November 1, 2024 (5:17 pm)

No, but I’m guessing he was looking to steal light bulbs to complete his ensemble.

Chris November 1, 2024 (4:22 pm)

This has become quite serious in the North Admiral district with the crooks’ activities. We do know somehow they will be caught & hope sooner than later.

Alisa November 1, 2024 (5:11 pm)

You can also specify in the Amazon app that you’d like to have the delivery driver hide your packages in a particular location so it’s out of view. Amazon Key In-Garage delivery is also available here if you prefer not to have deliveries go to a pick-up location. Sorry this happened.

Chris November 1, 2024 (5:56 pm)

This is not all packages being stolen. It is vehicle windows being broken, vehicles gone through, vehicles stolen. This has been a problem in North Admiral per video above on Palm Ave & surrounding areas and seems to have become worse the last month. We found a door handle and a punched out door lock on parking for a neighbor’s car just recently. Numerous vehicle windows were broken.

Ken November 1, 2024 (8:02 pm)

Amazon to some extent and most certainly the drivers, could care less if the packages are delivered to the locations the customer requests. I’ve had numerous packages go “missing” that Amazon claims were delivered to my porch. No photos provided of their so-called delivery and no evidence that a driver ever stepped one foot on my property since the security cams didn’t capture anything. One time a neighbor two houses away found my package in their planter box. Another instance the box was smashed and shoved into my mailbox. In both cases the driver stated the boxes were left at the porch. Most of the time, the packages were never found. Now, whenever possible, I’ll just pick up the box from a locker. Yeah, it’s an inconvenience, but better than dealing with the lying drivers and constantly wondering if or where they actually left my packages.

Bill#1 November 2, 2024 (5:42 pm)

I’ve had 2-3 deliveries a month for the last couple of years – never missed a one — drivers always take pics and include them on the delivered advisory email. When I have seen the drivers they have always been friendly and courteous. 5:50 pm Thursday an Amazon driver was my first T&T’r!

Chris November 4, 2024 (5:37 am)

We found out recently that there are squatters in a house on Victoria Ave S W not far from us. The house was scheduled to be torn down per signs which have disappeared. Squatters came to house from Brooke Ave, broke window to get in. A neighbor alerted us & was able to reach the homeowner who was boarding up house yesterday. The squatters have already tried to pry the wood off the house to get back in Police are aware of the situation. Squatters have cars that they’ve been parking down on Brooke Ave. Neighbors know these cars are associated with the squatters. We have alerted several neighborhoods, including block watchers on Palm Ave, in case this might be related to crimes in the area.

ArborRes November 4, 2024 (5:28 pm)

Sorry that this happened, and thanks for sharing this video. This is beyond frustrating. Like other commenters here, I use a free Amazon locker for delivery of any high-value items. I There appear to be many West Seattle locations for Amazon locker services (I have used the one at Safeway on Roxbury), which you can use for any object that fits within the size limits of the box. (Amazon will let you know.)

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