WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another stolen car crashed, abandoned on SW Alaska

Thanks for the photos and tips. For the third time in a week, someone has crashed, then abandoned, a stolen car on SW Alaska west of The Junction, at/near 47th SW. And neighbors want to see police presence to increase the chance of catching someone next time. This time it happened just after 2 am today. A nearby resident – who says their partner owns the car hit two days ago – sent the top photo, and explains:

My partner’s Jeep was the hit and run on the 19th. This morning … another vehicle did it again. Didn’t swipe any of our vehicles this time, but lots of property damage on the hill on the way day, car ditched right by our house again. They did it also a week ago, destroying street signs and bushes down SW Alaska. This has suddenly become a joyride hill … We’re asking they station a cop at the bottom of the hill. This will happen again.

We listened back to the dispatch audio, which only included a mention that the occupant of the abandoned car got out and “left in another vehicle.” Another nearby resident sent us this video of that vehicle, described as a Mazda:

The crashed-and-abandoned vehicle was a Hyundai Elantra, finally towed at 5:30 am, according to some info we have since obtained from SPD – this is a reader photo of that:

The SPD info does not include confirmation it was a stolen car but does note it was likely an “unreported” one – meaning its owner wasn’t yet aware their car had been taken and so hadn’t reported it – as it had ignition-wiring damage.

10 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another stolen car crashed, abandoned on SW Alaska"

  • Alki resident May 21, 2025 (1:20 pm)

    Police won’t be stationed at the bottom of the hill in case it happens again. Install cameras and dash cam on your vehicles so they can catch the suspects. Ask neighbors to do the same. 

  • CJ May 21, 2025 (1:42 pm)

    Are they trying the recreate this viral hill jump video?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Q8htWeO7c

  • Big Bird May 21, 2025 (3:07 pm)

    The only thing cameras and dash cams will do is record it happening, record the suspects get away in another stolen car. They probably don’t even live in the area.

  • BJG May 21, 2025 (3:53 pm)

    Hearing racing loud cars up and down the valley west of the Junction almost every night. Probably they’re the same fools using California and Alki as well.  It shouldn’t take a police stake out to notice this. We hear it so frequently. The more the merrier! Sorry for our poor neighbors. Insurance companies aren’t handing out cash for these repairs, maybe a little something after deductibles and then much higher premiums for years if you have the right policy. 

  • Commuter May 21, 2025 (6:09 pm)

    I don’t think there is anyone in these cars when the come to rest. It seems like they are getting out and rolling them down the hill just to see what happens. I was at the car within 20 seconds when the one hit on Monday. There was nobody in sight and no way the driver could have gotten out of the car before I would have seen them. They are just launching easily stolen cars down steep streets for “fun”.

    • Brandon May 21, 2025 (7:22 pm)

      That’s exactly what’s going on, I live at the top of hill.  These punks have been showing up in the middle of the night for the last couple weeks doing this 

  • WCR May 22, 2025 (12:28 am)

    I’m so sick of this happening so often. Three times already this week! They took out the beautiful trees on SW Alaska between 46th and 47th. There were definitely two cars involved this time. I have them on my security camera. The first goes down, hits my neighbors compost bin, then takes out all the flowers in my parking strip, hits the no parking signs and takes out the remaining 2 trees. Then a car comes speeding down after. Will we get a restful night of sleep tonight or will we be awakened to this crap again? 😐

    • D-Mon May 22, 2025 (7:23 am)

      I’m so sorry to hear about the trees and flowers. I hope they catch these guys soon. 

  • ltmmgm May 22, 2025 (8:18 am)

    I’m 69 yo and left home at 14 and then for good at 16 did not have the happiest childhood but I never once felt sorry for myself and wanted to go out and destroy others belongings or steal anything.  I just don’t understand why these young people are doing all of this. It is sad. They don’t have to go down this road, they can make something of their lives, they need to just put their heart and soul into it and want it.

  • Car Sleuthing May 27, 2025 (11:27 am)

    Based on the shape of the c-pillar, the visible top side of the front headlights, and the brake lights (when lit up), the vehicle that left the scene looks like a circa 2019 Kia Sportage. I don’t believe it’s a Mazda.

Sorry, comment time is over.