WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Avalon 7-11 held up again (updated)

1:50 AM: Police are converging on the 35th/Avalon 7-11 after a report of yet another holdup. The only description so far: Four robbers, Black, male, black clothing, black masks, at least one armed, last seen heading eastbound on Avalon in a “silver sedan.”

12:08 PM: Here’s the SPD summary of this robbery:

At 0144 hours, walked in the 7-11 located at the 3200 BLK of SW Avalon Wy. The clerk was in the freezer area. A suspect with a long gun walked up to the clerk and put him at gunpoint. The suspects demanded that the clerk unlock the money bin. The suspects took over $150.00 from the till and Swishers. The suspects left Eastbound on SW Avalon Wy. Officers quickly arrived, and secured the scene. Fingerprints were lifted from the scene, and the SPD Robbery Unit was notified. Guardian 1 wasn’t in service.

ConcernedWSParent November 22, 2024 (4:00 am)

I cannot even imagine how scary these incidents must be for the 7-11 employees that have to endure this trauma and experience the very real fear that it will happen over and over again. We need more police presence in WS. This has to stop!

toba November 22, 2024 (5:19 am)

That is ridiculous. Thought 7-11 dropped all their 20‘s?

Good grief November 22, 2024 (6:19 am)

We should just start putting this in the calendar as a recurring event.

momos mom November 22, 2024 (6:53 am)

This is ridiculous, time to shut the store down at a decent time (yeah I know what is decent) for at least the safety of their employees.

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy November 22, 2024 (7:28 am)

I’m glad I stopped having a late night fall asleep beer and I don’t go to these places anymore… They probably would take customer belongings as well, though I don’t recall that being reported. Seldom would I walk in after midnight and not have a few other customers there also.

Brian November 22, 2024 (8:59 am)

This trend is disturbing enough without resorting to fiction about what COULD happen.
- Couldbe November 22, 2024 (9:20 am)
  
  Yes, it is disturbing. And that person’s comments represent many people in this community who do not go out after dark anymore and are very careful.. didn’t used to live like that… that’s a reality now. So we have to get serious about getting these perpetrators behind bars.
  - West Seattle Mad Sci Guy November 22, 2024 (2:49 pm)
    
    Actually I still have gone there since this all started. Just rarely. I take only exactly what I need. No phone. No wallet. Just a CC and a key they won’t find. Gray in my beard so they don’t card me 🙂
- WS Res November 22, 2024 (1:00 pm)
  
  Seriously. “This hasn’t happened, but what if it DID?”
Alki resident November 22, 2024 (9:26 am)

A lady attempting to go into Dominoes Pizza in White Center, caught sight of the robbers in the store so retreated to hide behind parked cars. When robbers came out, one of them tried robbing her too but it appears she gave them nothing. It’s caught on video. They’ve been arrested since so yes, customers get robbed too.

LJJ November 22, 2024 (8:58 am)

Rough time to be a 7-11 employee. :(

Oerthehillz November 22, 2024 (10:51 am)

Very much so! This one in particular and they had some of the nicest employees in there. I haven’t gone in again to check to see if they’re still there. I wouldn’t still be.

kg November 22, 2024 (9:26 am)

I wonder if they can lock the door after a certain time and only allow people in who remove their masks and hoody.

WS Res November 22, 2024 (1:01 pm)

Masks reduce disease transmission. We now have COVID, flu, walking pneumonia, AND whooping cough going around in our area. Everybody should be masking for their own health.
- Ferns November 22, 2024 (10:39 pm)
  
  They can remove it for the camera for 5 seconds.
- Resident November 23, 2024 (4:28 am)
  
  Going into 7-11 isn’t a right it is a privilege. That being said a rule to remove masks isn’t going to help if the criminals are breaking the law anyway.

MrsShaw November 22, 2024 (12:13 pm)

What are swishers?

AMC November 22, 2024 (5:19 pm)

A type of cigarillos/cigarettes
Westwood November 22, 2024 (6:11 pm)

A thin cigar or cigarillo.
WAzombie November 22, 2024 (10:34 pm)

To add more context, Swishers are often emptied of the tobacco and re-rolled with marijuana. It looks like a cigar to people, but has weed in it.

DRW November 22, 2024 (12:35 pm)

It’s an easy get away location. Just like the Highland Park and South Delridge locations.

momos mom November 22, 2024 (12:57 pm)

OK so I had to look up why they stole “Swishers” and this is what I found…who knew, not me a child of the flower child era!https://weedmaps.com/news/2020/08/how-to-roll-a-swisher/

Jim P. November 22, 2024 (1:01 pm)

Maybe these kids can learn some math. Their entire total probably was less than minimum wage once split up for the tine they spent.Purely stupid people.

Erik November 22, 2024 (1:17 pm)

4 robbers who got away with money and swishers worth what? A total of $200? That’s about $50 a person. They could get minimum wage jobs and make the same amount for their time and effort. What’s the point?

T Rex November 23, 2024 (7:19 am)

That would require discipline, responsibility, dedication, life goals etc…all those things that apparently too hard for many young people. Like I have said before, one of these robberies is going to end badly if it keeps up.
Lagartija Nick November 23, 2024 (8:29 am)

Please tell us where these minimum wage jobs are that pay $50 for 5 minutes of “work”?

Patrick November 22, 2024 (4:55 pm)

Unbelievable how many times this 711 has been robbed recently. They should just close from 10pm-6AM until SPD gets caught up on hiring more resources.

KK November 22, 2024 (7:13 pm)

It’s pretty terrifying living next door to a 7-11. I partially observed one of the robberies a couple years ago and the 3 gunmen were pointing their guns right at my home.

Dunno November 22, 2024 (7:47 pm)

This is why the workers are paid big bucks! This is a joke. You are getting what 60% have voted for. Time to go 100% credit card like the Taco Time across the street!

Sillygoose November 23, 2024 (7:17 am)

I’m wondering what .gov enity approves businesses for business liscenses. Can the contracts be changed to require these convenience stores have a secure booth like banks for clerks. The amount of resources used for these robberies are wasted again and again. Businesses owners should provide safety for their clerks.

McCloud November 24, 2024 (10:19 pm)

The 7-11 down towards Alki locks their door after a certain time and you have to ring a doorbell type buzzer and then the clerk comes to the door to let you in. Seems much safer.

Sorry, comment time is over.