West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbery suspects update; busy burglars; stolen/found bikes…

In West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight:

ROBBERY SUSPECTS: First, an update on the three men whose arrests we covered late last night in Arbor Heights, believed linked to other crimes around the city: They were not booked into jail until midday today, so their bail hearing isn’t until tomorrow afternoon. We haven’t turned up any information on criminal records yet, but the authorities have access to more tools than we do, so we should find out something definitive when probable-cause paperwork is available tomorrow.

BUSY DAY FOR BURGLARIES: The SPD map, tweets, and scanner traffic total up to (at least) eight burglaries reported in West Seattle today, more than three times the average:

4000 block SW Maryland
4100 block 54th SW
4600 block Beach Drive SW
4700 block 49th SW
5600 block 36th SW
1600 block SW Austin
8300 block 46th SW
5400 block 31st SW

The only victim we’ve heard from directly so far today is Robert, reporting a burglary from Tuesday:

I want to let your readers know that our house was burglarized on Tuesday. They broke a window in the back and swept through taking only high priced items like computers and Ipad, etc. A neighbor reported that someone came to her house asking for water because their car overheated. The police said this was most likely the lookout and that they were probably checking to see if anyone was home. Lots of people home but nobody else noticed them so they must have been pretty quick about it. Our house is near 51st and Grayson.

CAR TO WATCH FOR: With the caveat that we don’t know which of the above-mentioned cases – if any – might be linked to this car, we do need to note that we heard from two people in different neighborhoods this afternoon about police looking for a gold Cadillac possibly linked to local burglaries, and we heard it mentioned a time or two on the scanner as well. We have tried to find out more directly from SPD but so far have not received any official information. The license plate, according to one reader, is believed to include a Z. If you see a car like this (or any vehicle, for that matter) in suspicious circumstances, let police know. We’ll be trying again tomorrow to find out more.

STOLEN BIKE: Tweeted by Bradi: “My BMX Bike stolen from our house early 8/22 AM. Red Mongoose w/tan seat, slicker tires, bell, BRAKES and KICKSTAND! Please help find Bikey!” This happened, she replied to our followup question, in North Delridge.

FOUND BIKE: Anyone missing this bike?

If you are, and have filed a report – leave a comment; it’s been found but the finder is leery of someone just going and helping themselves to it.

36 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Robbery suspects update; busy burglars; stolen/found bikes..."

  • Amy August 22, 2013 (11:38 pm)

    Gold Cadillac is right. Driver is a big fat black man over 6 feet tall. He was wearing a white t-shirt. He had two black teenage boys with him. Pants haning down low and ball caps. totally out of place on our street. One teen approached my neighbors house and I asked him from a safe distance what he wanted. Same stupid story- our car is overheated and we need water. I said I’d get some then I called 911. They started to drive away and I knew they were up to no good. Scum, complete scum. These guys are more than likely packing heat. Of you see them call 911. Don’t approach them. Oh, and I was a little worried about seeming racist for calling 911 because a gold Cadillac with black guys were on my street and I didn’t know them. But I called anyway and I hope spd gets this scum. The officer I spoke wih was great and they want these guys bad.

  • Sonoma August 23, 2013 (12:54 am)

    Scum indeed. And stupid. If you don’t want to be conspicuous, don’t drive around in a gold Cadillac.

  • Eric August 23, 2013 (4:46 am)

    I’m pretty sure this guy is local. I have seen what Amy described in the Westwood area getting gas before.

    Yeah, anyone claiming they need water because their car broke down and then drives away when the water is refused is (an understatement) suspect.

    Nice to see this POS teaching these teenagers how to be POS too, to continue on the tradition.

  • ttt August 23, 2013 (8:49 am)

    thanks for being a vigilant neighbor, Amy!

  • ghar72 August 23, 2013 (8:53 am)

    We had an attempted theft on 17th and Thistle on Weds afternoon. I’m sure many in this neighborhood know the two brothers, middle school and high school, African-american, usually on bikes. I know their names, but not sure if it’s okay to post that. They come around asking to do yard work. We’ve lived here for seven years and have given them a job here or there. We’d help them fix their bikes when they came by. The older of these two brothers came to our place on Weds and knocked on the door. I was home alone, on the back deck. Went inside and saw him out on the sidewalk, but didn’t answer the door. I went back outside and five minutes later saw him in my carport. We had food stolen from our outside freezer a few months back and I suspected this boy but couldn’t prove it. When I saw him in my carport I hollered at him and he and his friend took off running. I don’t know if he was coming to take food, knowing it’s there, or was going to attempt to break-in to our place from the back. I called 911 and spent a long time talking with the officer. These boys are known, have a rap sheet of theft and assault. The officer told me that many in the neighborhood have helped these boys out by giving them work, but they are up to no good now. It’s very sad when a community tries to help out youngsters, gives them odd jobs, and then the kids steal from them.

  • thistle stairs August 23, 2013 (9:12 am)

    Our neighbors son on the 8300 block of 46th came home just as that fat black guy was walking out with their electronics and safe. How hard can it be to find a guy with a description, a garish ego-mobile and a partial license plate? They were probably on a thousand store security cameras as they drove around pillaging. Hope this is a priority, seeing how many good people were effected.

  • Orchard August 23, 2013 (9:32 am)

    The ADT salesman came by trying to sell his services and mentioned there was a forced entry break in somewhere in the 4100 block of SW Orchard on August 16th.

  • Joe Szilagyi August 23, 2013 (9:53 am)

    @Orchard there are actually studies that demonstrate on a years-long scale that active, visible and advertised alarms deter burglaries. Internet and an alarm were the first services I ordered when we finally bought a house. I’d love to see SPD statistics on what percentage of houses in Seattle that are burglarized had and didn’t have active alarms.

  • Mindy Exum August 23, 2013 (10:41 am)

    I live in a 4-unit building in the 4100 block of Beach Drive and my home was forcibly broken into Monday (8-19) afternoon or early evening. They used a pry bar to break open the front door and split the door jamb. My dog & I were out at the time and apparently no one else was home in the building. Police questioned my neighbors and other building residents but no one heard or saw anything. As best we can tell, it happened in the early afternoon, when everyone was out. They got a lot of nice jewelry plus my silver flatware and a Coach handbag, which they hauled off in a suitcase they also took. They didn’t touch any electronics, and looked like they were in and out quickly… Nothing else was damaged. I’ve lived in this location for over 10 years and always felt safe– but the worst part is how creepy it feels to know someone was in your home… I didn’t have a security system other than my dog, but will get one now…

  • gia August 23, 2013 (12:35 pm)

    @mindy, i have had that same creepy feeling once before when my home was broken into (a different state). Prayers to you. That feeling of safety and trust can be restored in time. I got a dog and that helped me. Neighborhod/block watch also made me feel safer. sorry this happened to you. :(

  • gia August 23, 2013 (12:38 pm)

    Thistle stairs, Amy, and Eric…i agree with you what with everyone that has been robbed, somewhere someones home security, store cameras, the gas station that someone saw the gold mobile (ugh!) getting gas, some place must have a close up of the license plate of this auto. Please get these thieves off the street before someone gets hurt.

    • WSB August 23, 2013 (1:37 pm)

      Gia – sorry, I wasn’t clear. Police have a license plate #. I still have not been able to talk with them about all this (I wish they would simply issue a public “we’re looking for …” bulletin to make it clear) so we are not publishing it, but the “Z” is a distinguishing digit.

  • TimeToFightBack August 23, 2013 (12:58 pm)

    @Amy – you were worried about coming off as a ‘racist’? You did the RIGHT thing – you knew those sub-human scum had NO BUSINESS in your area and you called the POLICE – you did NOTHING racist. If you pulled your .357 and started shouting racial epithets, then opened fire and blew a generous portion of the scumbag’s thieving hand off, I might wonder if you were a racist. But you didn’t. You called the cops, just like I and hopefully EVERY other responsible neighbor would have.

  • Michael Curtis August 23, 2013 (1:03 pm)

    Our home in the 6000 block of 49th SW was burglarized on 8/1 sometime in the morning. Kicked in the front door and made of with a list of stuff similar to Robert’s posting above. We’re alarmed now!

  • Denise August 23, 2013 (1:16 pm)

    I had a man come by my house last night @ 8:45 pm looking for donations and my signature on a petition about healthcare reform. I can’t remember the organization now. I didn’t open the door but wondered if anyone else had this happen. I was wary since it was 8:45. I live just off Delridge

  • AT August 23, 2013 (2:08 pm)

    Our home was burglarized on Tuesday 08/20/2013 morning around 9:48am in 2700 block of Garlough Ave SW. We had a security camera that caught images of these burglars. They broke the glass windows on the side of my house to gain entry to the house. Two black males, one BIG and bald with white short sleeve t-shirt and another tall and slim. The pictures were shared with the police and our neighbors. One of our neighbor’s son who was just visiting from out of state had actually seen the big heavy-set black guy standing in front of my front door. After the incident, I have not been able to sleep soundly at night in my own house. I hope SPD gets these guys soon.

  • gia August 23, 2013 (2:13 pm)

    thanks for the clarification about the license plate. I wish it could be so easy to look up the license plate, contact the registered owner, and put the pressure on them to disclose who the crooks are. In the meantime, everyone needs to keep a eye open and help keep our neighborhoods safe.

  • West Seattle Hipster August 23, 2013 (4:23 pm)

    Any update on the suspects in custody?

    • WSB August 23, 2013 (4:25 pm)

      I’m waiting for the probable-cause docs on the robbery suspects. The jail register shows them each with bail set this afternoon at $250,000 so I’m drafting the story and if the docs aren’t in when I’m done drafting, I’ll publish that part and add the additional factoids when they arrive. – TR

  • Mindy August 23, 2013 (4:36 pm)

    Thanks, Gia. I hope they catch these guys– they are scary. Either really stupid or really bold…

  • West Seattle Hipster August 23, 2013 (4:38 pm)

    Thanks TR

  • Eric1 August 23, 2013 (5:37 pm)

    I just saw this story mentioned on KOMO TV by Luke Duecy. Pretty good coverage of the problem. Also reviewed how a local man captured a thief trying to rob his home. It was kind of interesting as while holding him waiting for the police, the robber seemed to be remorseful of being a thief (although almost anybody would be remorseful at the wrong end of a gun). Unfortunately, I don’t think it was the fatman.

    • WSB August 23, 2013 (5:52 pm)

      Yeah, it’s been a slow week, so this “spree” has inspired TV coverage (KIRO was on it for a while this morning until the Steve Ballmer story broke, and then the reporter was moved to that). The guy you mention contacted us too, and while I wasn’t able to interview him in person, I hope he will be able to share his story with us. He says it happened at 1 am yesterday in the 4400 block of 37th SW – the guy was at the back door when he (the resident) pulled a “sneak attack,” and held onto him until police arrived. – TR

  • CM August 23, 2013 (6:44 pm)

    The caddy has been at Roxbury Safeway since yesterday, I called it in to SPD today. OK, a disclaimer, I “think” it’s the car in question, but how many gold caddy’s with a “Z” in the license are there? Hope it didn’t inconvenience an innocent owner, but I have a special place in my heart for thieves and burglars. Thanks WSB for the heads-up.

  • trueblue August 23, 2013 (8:36 pm)

    Thanks to everyone for keeping their eyes open and being vigilant. As for the car, does anyone know the approximate year of the Cadillac?

  • lookingforlogic August 23, 2013 (8:44 pm)

    The desperation accelerates. Don’t panic just prepare.

  • Lauri August 23, 2013 (9:06 pm)

    Denise, I’m a few blocks from Delridge and a young woman from Washington Community Action Network came by Tuesday night to talk about healthcare costs. It was a bit after 8:00, which seems late to me. Your 8:45 visitor might have been part of the same group of canvassers.

  • Savannah August 23, 2013 (9:12 pm)

    @Denise – same thing in the Seaview neighborhood recently; 2 guys with brown clipboards around 8:30pm (ODD) – similar story…can’t really imagine it all being legit at 8:30pm on a weeknight!? Took photos of the two individuals “just in case”…

  • Brad Lackey August 24, 2013 (12:22 am)

    @ Amy – Never feel “racist” about calling 911 when someone suspicious is in your area, no matter what color, ethnicity, creed, nationality, or whatever they are. Your reporting such to the police may very well save a life.

  • Jay Marse August 24, 2013 (6:20 am)

    So, as one poster said, a study showed that ‘burglar alarm’ signs on property resulted in less burglaries! So, why is your Mayor attempting to put up ‘Gun Free’ signs in businesses? If no burglar alarm gets you a higher probability of being burglarized, doesn’t a ‘Gun Free’ sign get you on the short list to be robbed also? One other thought, I would bet the guys that did this will be out on the street doing the exact same thing within 3 years, if they go to jail!! Our justice system is not about deterring crime, it is all about revenue and de facto ‘encouraging crime’, as with the ‘Gun Free’ signs!

  • jeff August 24, 2013 (6:35 am)

    Komo says an armed west Seattle homeowner detained the older guy and called police. So if he actually stays in jail, the streak may be over.

    • WSB August 24, 2013 (8:29 am)

      Jeff, as mentioned upthread in the comments, the guy caught by a local resident was caught at 1 am on Thursday, before the day of burglaries, so I don’t believe it’s the same guy.

  • KC August 24, 2013 (7:08 am)

    @CM – I saw the caddy on my street (later learned it was breaking into my neighbors) – it is from about 2000, and I believe the emblem on the grill of the car is missing.

  • crimestopper August 26, 2013 (6:23 pm)

    Any word if those punks got caught? ( in reference to the ” big black guy” and teens?) All those witnesses and IDs.

  • Sue September 5, 2013 (2:06 pm)

    Any news about these burglars? Have they been charged or taken into custody. My house was also robbed 7/24 in the day time and I own 2 big dogs.I’d also like to try to get some of my property back if possible.

    • WSB September 5, 2013 (2:24 pm)

      Sue – if you were burglarized that day, check in with the officer regarding the case number you were given. I have asked repeatedly for information on these particular suspects (assuming all or most of the cases were related) and have not so far procured it, so I have no updated information, but will continue following up.

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