WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Vandalism, theft shuts down ‘Forest of Shadows’ light show

Thanks for the tips. The “Forest of Shadows“ light show at the Seattle Chinese Garden has been shut down for at least two nights because of vandalism and theft. We got a tip this morning from someone turned away last night, but the production company didn’t reply to our inquiry, there was nothing on the police map, and the online ticketing system appeared to be selling tickets for tonight (took us all the way to asking for payment info), so we hit a bit of a dead end. Then came this photo, sent a short time ago by a reader reporting they were turned away tonight. In addition, a South Seattle College spokesperson (the garden is at the campus’s north end) says show producers notified SSC security they’d been hit by vandalism and theft, no details. The show is geared for the Halloween season and was intended to run a few more days before the same area switches over to the “Astra Lumina“ holiday-season light show next week.

college_neighbor October 31, 2025 (5:17 am)

Crime has risen in that area with the growing Forest of RVs on 16th. They have generators running all night, one is grinding and welding on things at all hours, others have a steady flow of vehicles coming and going from them. Whatever is missing from the light show is probably in the back of the white trailer up there.

Jake October 31, 2025 (11:34 am)

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Blaming the poor is just convenient huh
- Lu November 1, 2025 (12:29 pm)
  
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  Jake….. you must be kidding me right? “Blaming the poor”? We must be able to think critically to solve problems. Crime is committed by a very small percentage of the population. It’s not hard to find out who is committing crimes and to stop them. And apparently this is news to you but people who live in RVs on the side of the road who have opted out of our social contract tend to be pretty high up on the list of those willing to commit crime. Other commenters and those saying RV/homeless people make great neighbors are willfully ignorant to the truth about crime statistics and who is likely to commit violence and theft. Let’s exercise some common sense here folks.

OneTimeCharley October 31, 2025 (9:39 am)

Have you reported the encampment to the proper authority? If so, what department, how did you report it, and when? It’s helpful for the rest of us to know because if they are not being sufficiently responsive then we should all know this right away. I mean, it is election time. If we can’t get action now then we never will.

Amy October 31, 2025 (10:56 am)

I’m sorry, I’m not seeing anywhere above where it states that the residents of the RV’s have been found guilty of the theft or vandalism.

Jake October 31, 2025 (11:35 am)

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Oh you know, just WSB commenter things. Middle class blaming the lower class while rich tax us to death and make people need to steal.
- WSbob October 31, 2025 (12:27 pm)
  
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  Well, who else would you say is likely to do something like this? There is a chance but highly doubt “middle class” person would resort to stealing and vandalizing to fuel their drug addiction, its typically the usual suspects. The rich don’t tax you to death, the government does. Stealing and vandalizing is a choice, no one “make people need to steal” as you stated.
  - JP October 31, 2025 (4:37 pm)
    
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    I mean. I also live on 16th across from the college, and see the RVs daily. I know that the one that is on our street most often is owned by a young couple with dogs. One works night shift and the other day shift. Dude is a gamer. They’re pretty quiet and nice neighbors. None of the RVs at the moment seem to have stuff spilling onto the sidewalks. And the City does quarterly “RV mitigation” parking restrictions all down the street that are really annoying and force us to park at the school for 3-5 days at a time. This really sucks about the theft. I don’t miss the rat race for parking in front of my own home, but last night and tonight probably would have been their biggest earning days.
- Anne October 31, 2025 (12:47 pm)
  
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  Just as typical as your reply- You have no clue as to who the commentator is.

Admiral2009 October 31, 2025 (6:00 pm)

Jake – being poor is not an excuse to steal?

Westsidegirl October 31, 2025 (7:53 pm)

No matter ‘who’ Or …’why’ it was a disgusting low thing to do… they are trying to make something nice and these jerk offs have to destroy it(incidentally my vote would be for bored teens entertaining themselves and each other … with no regard to the time and effort and heart that went into that…SO : boo on you… whoever did that: you suck!