WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 9 arrested at Westwood Village

Also from last night’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting – precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair told attendees that nine people had been arrested in an operation at Westwood Village earlier in the day. She said three stores – Target, Marshalls, and Ulta Beauty – had been reporting particularly egregious trouble with thieves, so they got some extra help to go after the problem. The newfound ability of the King County Jail to book misdemeanor suspects played a role in their ability to do this, Capt. Bair said, noting that six of the nine arrestees were booked into jail. Previously, without the ability to book such suspects, she said, “for a while it was a free-for-all there … today we let them know, that’s not the case.” The department’s General Investigations Unit and Community Response Group were involved, she said, making those nine arrests in three hours. “Those businesses really appreciated it.” We don’t have the suspects’ names yet but SPD says the charges they face include “theft, burglary, assault, and warrants.” (Our report on the major topic of the rest of last night’s meeting, the Unified Care Team, is still in the works.)

24 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 9 arrested at Westwood Village"

  • Eric1 December 6, 2024 (6:48 pm)

    Wow.  Great to hear thieves are finally getting at least booked into jail.  Hopefully no judges are available to release them until Monday.  

  • Alki resident December 6, 2024 (6:49 pm)

    I sure don’t miss shopping at Westwood.

  • Lucy December 6, 2024 (6:56 pm)

    Good!   Let them sit in county jail until Monday.  

  • Morgan Graham December 6, 2024 (7:25 pm)

    Nice. 

  • Daiso Shopper December 6, 2024 (7:41 pm)

    Some of those thieves hit Daiso before Ulta, too.

  • Vee December 6, 2024 (7:57 pm)

    Good jobHave to have consequences to help deter a lot of this, it does make a difference especially to younger ones who might think twice now 

  • onion December 6, 2024 (8:48 pm)

    About effing time.

  • Steph December 6, 2024 (8:55 pm)

    I stopped shopping at Westwood Village because of the crime. It just became more dangerous than I wanted to deal with. 

    • QFSee December 7, 2024 (12:36 am)

      Steph, I spend a great deal of time at Westwood Village between hours at the Fitness 19 gym, shopping at the stores, and eating lunch and dinner there with my security guard son. It’s not a dangerous place or we wouldn’t let him work security there. 

      • MrsImpossible December 7, 2024 (11:12 am)

        Do you not see the irony of feeling safe because your security guard son works in Westwood? The fact that so many security guards are required is because of the crime at Westwood. Now, at Ross, the issue is so bad that you have to wait to be let in to the store, security guards stand there right at the entrance and exit monitoring traffic, and they check receipts before you can leave. Normalizing any of this is wrong. The need for this is a direct result of ignoring property crime. And you might spare a thought to the folks who work at Westwood who have to deal with this all the time. I have been at Ulta MANY times when there is an issue requiring security or police involvement. How safe do you think those workers feel? You cannot predict when property crime becomes a threat to personal safety and it’s ridiculous that we continue to excuse it just because people aren’t regularly being assaulted.

      • Alki resident December 7, 2024 (12:47 pm)

        Why does Westwood need security if it’s not dangerous? There was recently an armed robber who took money from McDonalds employee. Just because you feel safe doesn’t mean others do. I’ve seen way too much at that mall. I’m over it. 

    • Hunk December 7, 2024 (12:49 am)

      I shop there regularly at all hours, day and night. Never had a problem. Yes, it’s sad to see some people suffering or in crisis by the bus stop, but unless you’re a small object at risk of being shoplifted, there’s really nothing to be scared of.

      • K December 7, 2024 (12:01 pm)

        What about those poor innocent corporations? </sarcasm>

  • Thomas December 6, 2024 (9:22 pm)

    Thank you Mayor Harrell for making King County Exec Dow Constantine accept thieves to the jail!

  • Josh December 6, 2024 (9:37 pm)

    Thanks for your update and great news!

  • flimflam December 7, 2024 (6:47 am)

    Forgive my ignorance, but why were they previously “unable to book suspects”?

  • Jeff December 7, 2024 (7:07 am)

    Glad they are starting to pay attention.   Maybe I’ll be back when I can shop without having to find an employee to unlock a case when I want basic items.   I never felt in danger, but locking things up drove me away as a customer while not really impacting the shoplifting situation.

    • CooperJCW December 7, 2024 (8:34 am)

      “Locking” certain items up is happening everywhere and it is a shame that it has come to this.  The Roxbury Safeway is/has transitioned into this in just the last few weeks, moved a lot of items into an enclosed area where you go in and get what you need and pay for it inside the enclosed area, again it is a shame.Sort of like when Covid/Pandemic first hit, my employer had to install barriers around our desks to keep us all safely working, we were classified as essential employees now retailers are having to spend the extra money to install items to be safe and not be stolen. 🫤

      • East Coast Cynic December 8, 2024 (8:49 pm)

        Which is why I prefer the Alaska Junction Safeway – A lot less locking up of items and shorter lines to self service and checkers unlike Roxbury’s cattle call mobs.

    • Derp December 7, 2024 (9:45 am)

      You think because of one operation they will open the cases back up. That will not happen. 

      • Marcus December 7, 2024 (12:14 pm)

        There will be no return to normal for a while however this is a start. Thx SPD

  • wetone December 7, 2024 (9:50 am)

    Glad to see this happening (accountability for actions) something we have seen little of for a long time. With King County Dow Constantine headed out the door, hopefully it will be a start for many positive changes well overdue and needed for area.

  • Karl December 7, 2024 (5:23 pm)

    Yet I cannot get a response or assistance with the repeated thefts from my home within walking distance of here, with video of faces and license plates.Don’t come at me, the corporate businesses are the priority while the residents and locally owned stores are not. Capitalism sucks. 

  • retail December 10, 2024 (2:33 pm)

    A year ago I was knocked down  as a young robber exited Target with an extra large,  stolen  flat screen.  The store security  were present and  concerned about me, but I wanted them to go after the robber.  They could not then,  but  I’m glad to learn of the General Investigtion Unit today.   SPD  is a  welcome  force at Westwood Village !

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