WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Burglary at city’s Joint Training Facility

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo. North-side JTF gate, bordering Arrowhead Gardens property; vehicle entry gate is off Myers, on east side)

3:09 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us to what they described as a “major break-in overnight” at the Joint Training Facility, operated by the city primarily for Fire Department training, on the southeast edge of West Seattle (9401 Myers Way S.). We’ve obtained the preliminary police summary, which says officers were called to the JTF just after 8 am today, after SFD employees discovered what had happened:

SFD personnel arrived to find a SFD vehicle at the entrance and the vehicle entry gate heavily damaged. It appeared that sometime overnight a portion of the fencing had been cut and entry made. Inside, a SFD vehicle was broken into and used to ram the door of of the engine bay where entry was gained. A SFD ax was found on the ground near the bay. Three separate trailers on the property was also broken into, seemingly by use of the ax. The SFD vehicle was then used to ram through the entry gate for the suspect(s) to exit from the property. There are some cameras present on the property and a link was provided to upload any footage. At time of this report, it was unknown what property, if any, was taken.

We have asked SFD for comment on that, as well as whether the damage etc. is affecting operations as suggested by our texter, and will add any additional information we get.

4:28 PM: Here’s the SFD statement we received from spokesperson Kristin Hanson:

In the late evening hours on March 15, there was a break-in at the City’s Joint Training Facility, which is a property shared by the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Public Utilities. The fire department has filed a police report with the Seattle Police Department and is currently conducting an inventory of stolen and damaged items. SPD is investigating this as a burglary. A total estimate on cost of damages will likely be available later this week.

We are deeply disappointed this has occurred, especially at a facility that is utilized for training firefighter recruits on saving the lives of others.

Marcus March 16, 2025 (3:26 pm)

It is a street war. Who is going to win?

Shadowtripper March 17, 2025 (7:35 am)

It appears that the street war is being won by the thugs and organized crime gangs that are able to operate without fear of being apprehended. It is almost a daily headline that shots were fired, a citizen was assaulted, a business was broken into or a car highjacked. It’s become the norm and the shock value is at zero.

WSCurmudgeon March 16, 2025 (4:36 pm)

It is penny wise and pound foolish to have alarm systems that record activity, but seem unable to notify personnel in real time of clearly criminal activity 24 × 7. The system shouldn’t require that (especially overnight) duty officers be watching monitors all the time.

KT March 16, 2025 (6:45 pm)

Those arrowhead garden apartments must be very well insulated if no one heard the gate ramming in the middle of the night.

Patrick March 16, 2025 (7:26 pm)

This is just awful. I hope that the damage and theft was not too extensive.

Todd March 17, 2025 (7:37 am)

They dynamics of crime is changing. No more picking locks and being sneaky. Just steal vehicles and use them as battering rams. Targeting SFD and other first-responder agencies gives them access to bigger and better tools – jaws of life, glass breakers and others – to be able to better burglarize businesses and homes. It’s just crazy.