WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Restaurant burglars steal eggs (updated Friday); mail-theft victims get alert

| Crime | West Seattle news

1:02 PM: Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BURGLARS STEAL EGGS: The security-camera image is from from a burglary early Wednesday at Luna Park Café. Two people in that van stole boxes of food from a refrigerated shed on the site at 2918 SW Avalon Way. The police-report narrative mentions only “boxes of produce” but café founder John Bennett, who provided the images, says the stolen items included “a couple cases” of eggs, which are priced at a premium these days.The narrative also says that when a café employee showed up after an alert from the security system, the burglars returned, but quickly left. Police say they got the call around 4:40 am. If you have any information on the burglary, the incident number is 25-033137. (Friday morning update: SPD now has more details, which they’ve. posted on their website, including that the burglars “removed boxes containing an estimated 540 eggs, worth about $387, as well as bacon, ground beef, blueberries and liquid egg products … In total, the items in this breakfast heist were worth about a shell-shocking $780.”)

MAIL-THEFT ALERT: Back on Tuesday, we published a short report from a reader whose USPS letter carrier had told them that mail trucks were broken into. Today, another reader sent us this notice they’d received in their mailbox:

The reader who received that notice lives in the 4700 block of 49th SW; the person who heard about it from their carrier is in the 4800 block of Beach Drive. Anyone else get a theft alert?

ADDED 6:05 PM: In addition to what’s in comments, we got this text:

Saw your reporting on WS mail trucks being compromised. My credit card was slated to be delivered and instead was stolen and used fraudulently – 3 times in the middle of the night before it was shut down. Just letting you know in case you want to update your reporting to let readers know the fraud is real.

Jake February 6, 2025 (1:14 pm)

Sad that people have to steal food. We should be a much better society and provide free food for anyone low income…

WSB February 6, 2025 (2:08 pm)

We do. There’s not even a means test.
https://westseattlefoodbank.org/get-food/
- New Deal February 6, 2025 (3:09 pm)
  
  They can no longer afford to provide eggs. Ask them.
  - WSB February 6, 2025 (4:03 pm)
    
    Jake said free food, not free eggs, and that’s what I was responding to.
Seattlite February 6, 2025 (2:24 pm)

Jake…What are food stamps? What are EBT cards?
Brian February 6, 2025 (2:29 pm)

Guarantee these eggs were stolen so they could be sold for money and then that money used for any number of enterprises. Maybe eating but maybe other things, who can say.
- KK February 8, 2025 (8:18 am)
  
  The org I work at in South Seattle had a catered breakfast meeting Thursday morning including 2 very large pans of scrambled eggs! My co-worker even commented: “I wonder where they got all those eggs given the egg shortage…” Hmmm.
  - Westwood February 8, 2025 (9:51 am)
    
    There are plenty of eggs available. You just have to be willing to pay for them.
JP February 6, 2025 (2:33 pm)

Did you even read the article? We’re not talking about an individual skulking out of Thriftway with a half carton of eggs concealed under their coat. They broke into a restaurant and stole a couple of foodservice CASES of eggs. Seem pretty clear this is connected to a black market operation.
- onion February 6, 2025 (3:53 pm)
  
  There was a heist of ap. 100,000 eggs in Pennsylvania the other day. I wonder if eggs are going to replace copper and catalytic converters as the hot target for the criminal set?
  - Delridge Neighbor February 6, 2025 (4:17 pm)
    
    It reminds of the Egg Head villain played by Vincent Price on the original Batman tv show. He was always scheming to get eggs. Maybe he’s driving a white van.
- Rob February 6, 2025 (5:03 pm)
  
  100% agree, we can’t assume it was any crime of need or necessity
ltm..mgm February 6, 2025 (3:16 pm)

Wow really Jake you do realize eggs are a hot commodity these days and as everyone else has mentioned there are plenty of places to get food. To whomever buys these eggs for less than market value shame on you, you know they are stolen!
Ann February 6, 2025 (6:34 pm)

Unfortunately people steal because they are thieves, not necessarily low-income. There are tons of resources all around Seattle for low-income people.
flimflam February 6, 2025 (7:36 pm)

Nobody is stealing a couple cases of eggs to feed their family AND there are countless resources for free food.
Byron James February 8, 2025 (8:22 am)

It’s a near certainty that these thieves already had a buyer(s) before they stole the goods.

KM February 6, 2025 (1:18 pm)

Yes, 4500 block of Beach Dr SW also got the notification from USPS

Richard February 6, 2025 (2:00 pm)

https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

Alki Parent February 6, 2025 (2:21 pm)

Price of eggs keeps skyrocketing, but our federal govt. focuses on culture wars.

Adam February 6, 2025 (4:30 pm)

A local biz is burglarized and all you can focus on is politics?
- Alki Parent February 6, 2025 (5:40 pm)
  
  It was robbed because eggs are expensive. So, yeah, politics plays a part here. The federal govt. is focused on culture wars while bird flu ravages farms and makes eggs more expensive. They are directly related.
  - Question Authority February 6, 2025 (8:38 pm)
    
    And what could the government do to stop the bird flu outbreak over than they already have, take your politics out of simple theft. Things are stolen daily, is it always the government’s fault?
    - Not happening February 6, 2025 (10:13 pm)
      
      @question authority: the role of government is to disseminate information at a federal level to prevent outbreaks. Right now the government fires the federal employees in charge of this, takes websites offline and stops scientific research grants. This is an attempt to save money for any future tax cuts but in this instance it’s going to further challenge any response. Don’t worry though maybe we’ll be able to afford eggs with our tax breaks.
    - Alki Parent February 7, 2025 (8:31 am)
      
      What could they do? They campaigned on this. Allegedly they had solutions. They don’t get to just ignore the problem they promised to solve as it gets worse to the point of now being a target for criminal activity in our neighborhood. So far all they’ve done is suppress information and made attempts at gutting the staffing at the agencies that exist to combat these kinds of problems.

Identity Theft Victim February 6, 2025 (3:02 pm)

It’s W-2 season…late Jan through the 1st week of Feb. The tax paperwork from your employer contains your social security number and is identity thieves favorite doc to steal. During this time pickup your mail every day. At this point I keep my credit frozen so no one can apply for credit in my name without contacting me. You may want to go to all 3 credit bureau websites – Equifax, Experian and Transunion – and freeze your credit and pull your free yearly credit reports.

Seattlite February 6, 2025 (3:35 pm)

Alki Resident…During the last administration more than 100 million chickens including egg producing hens were killed or died due to the bird flu. The USDA Secretary nominee for the new administration has no been confirmed yet. Let’s hope that the confirmation happens swiftly so the hard work of getting back to normal egg production and price reductions can start in earnest.

Rob February 6, 2025 (5:14 pm)

Are you saying the past administration just killed them for no reason? Actually it were the farmers who killed them to remediate the bird flu pandemic, and yes it still rages. But the new admin could have easily accepted transition and logistical support on the bird flu but declined. Even so, Rollins has 0 experience in agriculture at all, so….good luck with that.
- Seattlite February 6, 2025 (6:16 pm)
  
  Farmers are required to report the bird flu outbreak to the Dept of Agriculture. The Dept of Agriculture requires that farmers quell the spread of the bird flu by killing them. The Dept of Agriculture at the time of this latest bird flu outbreak was under the last administration.
Alki Parent February 6, 2025 (5:42 pm)

And yet all the executive action is focused on culture wars. The priorities of the administration are clear.
- Alkiroamer February 6, 2025 (8:58 pm)
  
  Eggsactly a politically distorted take on a burglary.
Not happening February 6, 2025 (9:57 pm)

@seatelitte: Trump is firing federal health workers and the people who oversee these programs. Science and research grants are being ended. Websites that disseminate useful information are being taken offline. There is no capacity to investigate and alleviate these problems. The best we can hope for is that the city and state step into the breach.

Whitney February 6, 2025 (4:27 pm)

We got hit by this. I had a credit card that was soon to expire so they were mailing me a new one…thieves got a hold of it, spent $150 at QFC and then tried to do a cash advance at the Wells Fargo near Alaska and 49th Ave and the card company called me 🙄 it’s frustrating. We all work hard and things like this are tough. Filed a SPD police report and a report with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The Manager February 6, 2025 (4:58 pm)

I manage 2 apt buildings in White Center and I have had more mailbox break ins than I care to remember. I have video and have contacted the Postal Inspector every single time. The person I speak to is very sympathetic to my woes. And tells me that someone will be in contact with me as soon as possible. Not one single time has anyone contacted me! Ever!! So don’t hold your breath. Just stating the truth.
Not happening February 6, 2025 (10:04 pm)

@whitney: to add to this with DOGE, we do not know what has been downloaded and how secure their system is. If you have shared your social, bank accounts (including any money paid into it by the government), health records or any other sensitive data you may want to take action. This might include freezing your credit score and using a service that would scan the web for your data.

wssz February 6, 2025 (6:42 pm)

We received the same mail theft alert letter letting us know that our mail was compromised. 4800 block of 49th. Fortunately we have USPS Informed Delivery letting us know each day’s mail first thing every day. Very strongly recommend this for everyone. To sign up, go to: https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

Steve February 6, 2025 (7:55 pm)

Hide your chickens everyone!!!

aa February 6, 2025 (8:08 pm)

I know bickering and disagreements are often the case on this blog and many other places. What I know about myself is I find our world to be exhausting right now. The stress and worry since Trump and Musk took over just a month ago is very tiring. I am sharing this because maybe others are dealing with similar feelings that can lead to having a shorter fuse. Maybe within this world of hate and division we can take a moment before lashing out.

1994 February 6, 2025 (10:36 pm)

Wasn’t it just 2 weeks ago, Jan 20, when Trumpmusk, or is it Musktrump, took over? An exhausting, disappointing, and frustrating 2 weeks! The restaurant food theft seems like someone knew something about what food was there and where stored…..perhaps an ‘inside’ job? or an inside tip was provided to others?

Laughing to the Bank February 6, 2025 (10:44 pm)

Well I guess the “yolk” will be on these thieves soon when they can’t figure out how to sell all those eggs!

ltm..mgm February 7, 2025 (1:02 pm)

Oh they’ll find someone/biz to buy those eggs, no problem.
JP February 8, 2025 (10:26 am)

Nah, Jake says they are handing them out to folks with low income. Kind of like a culinary Robin Hood.

Jim February 7, 2025 (2:01 pm)

Not at all amused with the SPD tongue in cheek reporting

https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2025/02/07/egg-thieves-whisk-away-hundreds-of-yolks-in-west-seattle-breakfast-heist/

ltm..mgm February 8, 2025 (12:20 pm)

I think the SPD’s tongue and cheek is quite clever
Miserable Childless Cat Lady February 8, 2025 (1:39 pm)

Whoever wrote this obviously thinks they are being more clever than they are. Not surprised by their flippancy in covering this story, but I am disappointed no one stopped to think “How would the owners and workers at Luna Park feel when reading about their incident?” before smugly hitting the publish key.
- ltm..mgm February 9, 2025 (12:36 pm)
  
  Did you see the local news interview with the owner of the Luna Park Cafe he wasn’t offended by what the SPD wrote in their report, he even made a joke about it himself. Everyone needs to just calm down and stop getting so egg cited about it.
Alfred E Newman February 9, 2025 (6:37 am)

Jim/ cat lady. Read it. Thought it was clever. If you and others took offense all I can say is that you’ve got ZERO sense of humor. If you really think the business was offended start a go fund me.

TK February 7, 2025 (4:53 pm)

“540 eggs, worth about $387”? If my math is correct, that’s 45 dozen eggs valued at $8.60/dozen? That must be the restaurant’s menu price, as they are still retailing at approx. $4.50/dozen in many stores incl. TJ’s & Costco this week.

Alki Parent February 8, 2025 (4:08 pm)

I was just at Costco and they have no eggs at all. Sold out.

MM February 7, 2025 (7:06 pm)

Yes agree. That SPD post is embarrassing – I’m sure the business owners were not amused. Poor Taste

Miserable Childless Cat Lady February 8, 2025 (1:40 pm)

Tacky AF.

Admiral-2009 February 8, 2025 (10:33 pm)

The Luna Park egg thieves made national news, hopefully they will be caught and made accountable.

TenYearsNow February 9, 2025 (11:58 am)

Were you like me and actually cringed and screamed at the TV when they called it “Western Seattle”? I must now be a native.
Al King February 9, 2025 (1:44 pm)

Admiral-2009. Eggzactly.

Roundthesound February 11, 2025 (8:21 pm)

The mail truck break-ins have to be an inside job. I have informed delivery but I’ve been having my mail returned to sender and I don’t know who would have done that; informed delivery does notify me that it happened though. The 4500-4800 blocks from the junction to Beach drive should be on the lookout for more than credit card theft.

Sorry, comment time is over.