West Seattle Crime Watch: Another Lincoln Park car prowl

Yet another car prowl at Lincoln Park. Today’s report is from Luna:

We had our car broken into between 8:15 and 8:50 this morning in the Lincoln Park south lot. There was nothing in the car for them to take. Everyone that stopped while we were cleaning up and getting someone to come and pick up our kiddo was so nice and surprised, it makes me glad to live in West Seattle even if this happens at our local park! We also chatted with a couple who were broken into in the same spot last week, so be careful, everyone! There really was almost nothing visible in our car and they didn’t take the kids Patagonia jacket that was on the floor, so it seems like they were definitely looking for a purse/wallet. Just wanted as many people as possible to be aware!

This is the third reader report we’ve received this week about Lincoln Park car prowls; we tried checking the police-reports map again for the latest tally, but it’s not working so well at the moment. We also have a message out to local police leadership to ask how they’re tackling this problem, and will add whatever we hear back.

18 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Another Lincoln Park car prowl"

  • Craig January 9, 2015 (1:28 pm)

    Seriously – If we know there will be a crime committed in this location, in fact we know it’ll be frequently committed for years, as this isn’t a recent issue. Can the city invest in a few Dropcams ($149 on Amazon) or get the pro level stuff for a few thousand (the cost of all the repaired windows) to at least get footage of who’s doing this? I don’t get why if the PD knows that this will happen why there’s not something done about it? Placing an officer there 24/7 isn’t a reality, but why not at least do an undercover watch operation, or at the least put up some cameras to get a physical ID on the criminals. I get that it’s probably a bureaucracy issue, but it’s still frustrating.

  • Raindog January 9, 2015 (1:38 pm)

    Hmm, it would be nice if that parking lot was patrolled from time to time. Visibly and regularly, so thieves don’t feel quite so secure – they’re clearly getting away with this over and over! I’ve started parking on the street nearby in order to be slightly less of a convenient target.

  • chuck and sally's van man January 9, 2015 (1:47 pm)

    I wouldn’t leave a gum wrapper showing if I were to ever park there. These miscreants see every jacket and empty shoe as a place to hide a wallet or cash. It really does seem to have reached a level where a special patrol or sting is needed. In the meantime, people need to change their attitudes to think like a thief: a coat or pair of jogging pants equals endless possibility. Worth a rock through a window to find out, anyway…

  • Josh January 9, 2015 (2:27 pm)

    Dropcam a good idea. I stopped going there– odds are too great my window will be smashed, and I don’t have the time or money to deal with it. Sad.

    One word of warning to those who park there: If you leave your garage remote inside, some crooks will snag that and your address from your registration to get “better stuff” than what’s in your car.

  • Gene January 9, 2015 (2:39 pm)

    I have seen patrol cars driving through & parked in the Lincoln Park lots- but they can’t be there all the time!
    But agree- a sting might work- if manpower allows.
    In the meantime- sad to say it– park at your own risk!!

    Allow the City to install cameras– in W.S.–??? Heaven forbid!!

  • KP January 9, 2015 (2:39 pm)

    Yes, exact same spot as earlier this week, I believe it was Monday afternoon. There was a patrol officer speaking to the car owner when I walked by.

  • Brian2 January 9, 2015 (4:10 pm)

    The police don’t get to decide where to put camera’s. Saying the police should put a camera there is wrong. The city council and mayor make those decisions. They have made the decision several times that cameras will not be installed on public property in Seattle.

  • nemobeansmom January 9, 2015 (5:04 pm)

    I remember when the City put cameras up at Alki and people cried “invasion of privacy” but now everyone wants cameras at Lincoln Park
    It’s different when it costs “you” to replace damaged cars and possessions and I am sorry for all that has but make up your minds

  • Guy Olson January 9, 2015 (5:40 pm)

    I would be up for volunteering a few hours every weekend as kind of a block watch thing. If anyone else is up for it my email addreds is : Glocson@gmail.com. I would probably patrol on a bicycle.

  • Guy Olson January 9, 2015 (5:43 pm)

    We should either do something about it or stop complaining.

  • flimflam January 9, 2015 (5:56 pm)

    this will only increase now that the city will take criminals in, give them a stern talking to, and send them on their way. (as outlined in the lead post re: new policy)

  • Wsea January 9, 2015 (5:58 pm)

    My wife was going to the park right after the incident occurred. I feel bad for the people.
    I told my wife to park up the street at our friends house to avoid getting a new window. We don’t keep anything in the car but I don’t think that matters to these people looking for hidden items.

  • st. justice January 9, 2015 (10:10 pm)

    Guess we can patrol with baseball bats, after all, slap on the wrist even if we injure for property damage. They want us to do the work ourselves since they won’t.

  • D DelRio January 10, 2015 (6:38 pm)

    I have been trying to lose weight and drop my blood pressure by running the wooden steps above Coleman Pool. So sad I might have to find somewhere to go. I guess I can try to park a block or two away, or when I build up my endurance I can walk there from house.

  • robert January 10, 2015 (8:12 pm)

    Get the baseball bats…anyone I see smashing a window should pretend it it is their head.

  • w.s.maverick January 12, 2015 (6:53 am)

    I’m surprised they don’t have cameras in the parking lot yet

  • G January 12, 2015 (10:57 am)

    I cannot believe that with the attention on this problem that it just goes on and on. Isn’t anyone interested in a citizen’s patrol????Or, do we just let this keep happening?

  • David January 16, 2015 (9:41 am)

    After my car got broken into in November I contacted the police and parks.Here were some of the points from there reply (summarized)

    From SPD South Precinct-

    “Unfortunately you are correct that property crimes are a big problem in Seattle and the police are doing everything we can to address the issue. We have just released information that we had 431 auto thefts in one month alone. While we spend a great deal of time and resources on prevention and intervention we simply cannot be everywhere and rely on the community to be our eyes and ears.

    There are also privacy concerns about putting surveillance cameras up in public areas. Many private citizens have their own cameras activated but the quality or angle is not sufficient to make a proper identification.

    We do follow up on those crimes that have information for us to investigate. Many times there simply are no clues or leads to follow. It is important to consider some crime prevention tips such as keeping valuables out of sight, recording serial numbers, and alarm systems.”

    And from the Seattle Park and Recs Superintendant office-

    “Some have suggested placing surveillance cameras but, under current City laws, we’re not allowed to have surveillance cameras in parks.

    It is not feasible for us to close the parking lots at night, or to try to have staff monitor parking lots—we just don’t have the staff and the funding to do that.

    One thing Seattle Parks is able to do is to place clearly visible signs in the parking lots, saying that there have been car break-ins, and that no valuables should be left in cars, to advise users so that they can determine if they are willing to assume the risk and secure their valuables.

    We are hopeful that with Seattle Police’s increased attention the problem will continue to decrease.”

    It really does seem the only thing to do immediately is have citizens patrol the area and try to catch or deter the thieves. I don’t know if it’s legal, but can private parties possibly set up hidden cameras? One of my items stolen was found on a street in Lower Queen Anne so it’s likely someone drives through and hits the lots.

Sorry, comment time is over.