Maybe you’ve seen Chris‘s motorcycle:

My motorcycle was stolen from the street in front of my house last night, in the 7700 block of 13th Ave SW (just off Holden). It was most likely put onto a truck because I was working on it a few days ago and had a bunch of wires unplugged. I don’t think it would have run, even if someone had a key. If you wouldn’t mind asking your readers to be on the lookout for it, I’d appreciate it. Maybe it will also keep someone else from getting their bike snatched.

Since the photo above was taken, Chris adds, he’s added a “new giant white gas tank” to the bike (shown here), which “also doesn’t currently have the windshield, blue plastic surrounding the headlight, or speedo/tach gauges because I had removed them to work on it.” Call 911 if you see it.

1:44 PM: The latest stolen vehicle to watch for: A U-Haul truck full of equipment from a Morgan Junction business. The report is from Ian, who with wife Elise owns Chill Massage Therapy:

We are currently remodeling and had all the contents of the shop in a U-Haul parked out front. That truck was stolen last night. Police reports filed, but we were hoping maybe you could post something with the truck license plate number so people can keep an eye out for us, please?It’s an Arizona plate, number DC1721K, and 14-foot truck.

“Out front” would be in the 6900 block of California SW. As the @getyourcarback tweet about this says, call 911 if you see the truck.

ADDED 1:57 PM: We asked Ian if there are any particular items in the truck that readers could watch for (in classified listings or wherever else): “a Large white mirrored wardrobe, front desk, two massage tables (1 blue, 1 brown), two corner glass door cabinets, large brown electric fireplace, small 2 drawer black filing cabinet, small refrigerator, boxes of marketing materials, brown 5-foot storage bench with drawers, bottles of massage oils and aromatherapy etc. These were the larger items that people may try and move on.”

11:25 AM: A deadly shooting on Sunday in Columbia City has touched the lives of hundreds here because of the victim. She was a 14-year-old freshman at Chief Sealth International High School. We just confirmed with Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer that grief counselors are available today for students, many of whom learned about this via social media starting late last night (thanks to the Sealth parents who let us know about this), and that she plans to send e-mail to Sealth families today. Meantime, Seattle Police say this morning that the suspect they are seeking, 24-year-old Si Phu, is a relative of the victim. Here is the photo they have released publicly:

The circumstances of the shooting have not been disclosed; so far, police have only said that they got a call just after 3 pm Sunday about a shooting in the 3500 block of S. Brandon in Columbia City, and that the victim died at the scene. Later in the day, SPD circulated the photo shown above, and this morning, they say Phu is still being sought. If you have any information about his whereabouts, please call 911. We will update this report with anything additional that we find out today.

12:04 PM: Here’s the letter sent to Sealth families by principal Fraser-Hammer:

Dear Sealth Families,

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that one of our students was the victim of a fatal shooting yesterday in Columbia City. Seattle Police are investigating, and we are in communication with her family.

As a community, I know we will come together to not only support our student’s family members, but work to ensure our larger community is a safe place for us to live, learn and work.

We have counselors at school today and will continue to have counselors and mental health support available in the days ahead for students, staff and families, as needed. When someone dies, particularly in an act of violence, it is normal for children and teens to have different kinds of feelings and reactions. Parents and guardians have important roles in helping students understand about death.

We understand that each culture has its own way of dealing with death, and we encourage children to talk with their families about their ideas, thoughts and beliefs. Additionally, talking about the incident can be a healthy way for families to process their feelings and reactions to an event of this nature.

Here are some suggestions for how to help students cope:

• Maintain a normal routine.
• Stick to facts. Answer questions factually.
• Remain calm and reassuring. Students take their cues from their parents and adults.
• Be a good listener and observer. Pay attention to changes in behavior.
• Notice when children have questions and want to talk.
• Be especially loving and supportive; children and teens need you even more at this time.
• Take care of yourself. You are better able to help your students if you are coping well. If you are anxious or upset, children are more likely to be so as well.

We recognize that even if your student may not have known or been close to this family, he/she may still feel a strong reaction. We also realize this may be your student’s first experience with death or it may trigger feelings about other deaths your child may have experienced.

A candlelight vigil is planned and details will be shared as information becomes available. This is an opportunity for students and families to acknowledge their grief and express their feelings about a sudden loss for which they have no control over.

If you have any questions, please let me know. We will keep you updated on how we as a community can move forward, and how we can support the family.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN CAR: Emily‘s silver 2010 Nissan Altima, plate AXL5242, was stolen sometime between 2 am and 11 am Saturday in Delridge. As the @getyourcarback tweet says, call 911 if you see it.

PACKAGE THEFT ON VIDEO: Two clips from an Admiral resident’s security cameras, plus the backstory:

Here are the pertinent details.
1. We live in North Admiral near 41st and Holgate.
2. We found an empty box on our porch (Saturday) morning with a note from a neighbor saying, “We found this on our lawn.”
3. The box had been addressed to us, but was ripped open, the items removed and then the packaging was discarded in our neighbors yard.
4. We used the tracking number to find out it had been delivered to us Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, we didn’t see the box and take it inside when we got home Friday night.
5. We have video cameras installed, so we reviewed the video and found that at 3:39 AM (early Saturday morning), a car drove by our house, the turned around and returned. A young woman got out, came through our gate, walked up to our doorstep and took the box.

We reported the incident to the police and have the entire event on video, so wanted to share it with you. If anyone can identify the thief or the car, please let us know. It would be great if we can stop these criminals before they steal from other people during this holiday season.

Some alternative tips for delivery are among the police recommendations for deterring package theft.

(Reader photo from Thursday)
One day after King County Sheriff’s Office deputies served arrest and search warrants at a home north of The Junction, we’ve learned that one of the people arrested is a murder suspect. KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says the 39-year-old man is wanted in connection with a homicide near SeaTac Airport. He appeared in court this afternoon and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says bail was set at $1 million. Probable-cause documents say the case involves the shooting death of a man on October 29th. The suspect arrested in West Seattle yesterday is accused of chasing the victim and firing the deadly shots into his car, after the victim allegedly stole marijuana he was supposed to be buying from the suspect during a meetup in Burien. Prosecutors will decide early next week whether to file charges against the suspect, whose “last known address” is listed on court documents as the house where he was arrested yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who messaged about what was initially a sizable police response at 42nd/Oregon in The Junction. Here’s what our crew found out at the scene: Police were called about possible intruders in the house on the southwest corner, which is slated for demolition to make way for a mixed-use building. They found two men inside and took them into custody for suspected trespassing. A property manager was going through the house at last report to check for damage/theft.

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes – starting with a Grinchy theft in Admiral. From Sara:

Some total GRINCH just stole the 10-foot-tall blow-up Bumble Snowman decoration in our yard (about an hour) ago … in the Admiral neighborhood.

Keep a look out for this guy … we really love him and want him back.

Plus, a car prowl in the Alki area – from MWM: “Three bags of hand tools and a backpack stolen from my pickup truck at 2700 block of 56th Ave. SW at 5:15 AM, this morning.”

(In case you missed it – our Wednesday Crime Watch report included car-prowl and package-theft deterrence advice from SPD.)

12:34 PM: Thanks for the tips about the police presence near 44th and Dakota on the north side of The Junction. Our crew went to the scene and found out it’s actually King County Sheriff’s Office deputies on a warrant service – NOT any incident that has happened or is happening. That’s all we know so far. Will add whatever else we find out.

12:43 PM UPDATE: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West can only confirm so far that it’s a combination search warrant and arrest warrant. More details might be available later.

“I’ve suffered from this addiction for a very long time and know I need serious help.” So wrote 32-year-old Christopher T. Martin in a letter to the judge who sentenced him last week for felony DUI and bail-jumping. Martin is the repeat drunk driver who was arrested on the West Seattle Bridge this past June after flipping his car, in which his toddler daughter was riding. Neither was hurt – nor was anyone in the three other cars involved – but police discovered Martin was wanted for failing to appear in connection with a felony DUI case from a downtown incident almost three years earlier. As we reported at the time, and as reiterated in current court documents, he had four DUI arrests in the preceding nine years, which made the 2012 charge, in which he tested with .27 blood alcohol, a felony offense. He’s been jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail since the arrest in June; in September, he pleaded guilty to felony DUI and bail jumping in the 2012 case, as well as pleading guilty to three Municipal Court charges in the West Seattle Bridge case. After several postponements, he was sentenced one week ago to five years in prison, with credit for time served; that was the top of the range, according to court documents.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:03 PM: Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports, starting with an investigation under way now:

POLICE SEARCH: Thanks for the tips about a police response in Upper Alki/West Admiral. Scanner traffic indicated they were looking for someone but no details on why; our crew went to the center of the search, Admiral Way and Lander, to try to find out more. Police there tell us someone reported being “grabbed” while walking in the area. They were talking with a possible suspect when we arrived so we don’t have further details; as far as we can calculate from the time frame that was mentioned, they didn’t get the report until at least 45 minutes after the incident, so it’s been at least an hour and a half now since the incident. We’ll add anything more we find out.

Since we’re talking Crime Watch, we’ll add two reader reports that came in earlier today:

CAR-PROWL SPREE: Ray shared this report sent to neighbors:

I’d like to thank Kathleen for letting me know my car had been broken into and I should also thank the Seattle Police Department and Officer J. Dobson for their swift and professional response. Last night my 2013 Honda Accord was broken into and a cell phone stolen on 38th Ave SW between Juneau and Raymond.

A total of four cars (and counting) were prowled last night between 9:00 pm and 7:00 AM today. If anyone has video on these cars, SPD would be really pleased to hear about it. Case #15-414043 at 206 733 9800 if you have related information. A $200 reward for apprehension and conviction of the thief is up for grabs (will be split, if there are multiple competitors for the prize).

I lost a cell phone out of my car and consider myself lucky that was the only theft. I expect to be replacing the door and the trunk lid, courtesy of our little friends. A few tips.

1) Never leave valuables in your car, even in our safe little area.
2) Particularly and especially valuables with data in or on them that can be used for identity theft.
3) If you are a firearms aficionado, please see #1 & #2. If the Seattle Chief can have his service weapon stolen out of his car, there is not a single one of us that is magically invulnerable. Leaving a gun in a car is a bad choice on many many levels – keep it on your person or under adult supervision at all times.
4) If you don’t have a car alarm system, now is a good time. If your system only triggers when a door opens, now is a good time to upgrade. My little thief caved in a window and went in through said window, cleverly not opening the door.
5) It is likely time for us all to be a little more aware as the holidays approach and thievery abounds. There has also been a uptick in packages being stolen from doorsteps throughout Seattle.

I will be installing an external camera covering our primary parking area shortly. I suggest doing the same, and I have found the AT&T alarm and surveillance system to be quite satisfactory.

GARAGE BURGLARY: Sent today by Rebecca:

I just wanted to report that our garage was broken into Thursday night, near 35th and Manning. The door was open in the morning and we thought we left it open, but then realized that all of our tools were gone. They did not take bikes or golf clubs, but a couple drills, chop saw, large tool box and several other tool sets. Not sure if any other burglaries were reported int he area, but seems like around the holidays the rate of burglaries goes up. Our garage is separate from the house but we were home and have several house guests and three dogs so a pretty brazen burglary.

ADDED 11:11 PM: One more report has come in tonight – from Lori:

Last night between the hours of 11 pm & 7 am. 3 of 4 tires/rims were taken off our 2012 Subaru. It was parked in our alley @ the 5200 block of 41st Ave.

We start this Crime Watch roundup with video of a porch thief who wasn’t even stealing a package:

Ramin‘s home surveillance camera was rolling when a thief stole “some stuff” from the porch earlier this week near 45th SW & Erskine. Thieves are striking in daylight too. From Sarah:

Wanted to let you know that we had a package delivered on our front porch by the USPS and within a half an hour the package was stolen off our front porch. We live on 35th between Barton and Cambridge. So, please let people know this is happening, and if they see a package on their front porch to not delay in retrieving it. I am filing a police report. Happy Black Friday…

Justin reported a package stolen from a porch in Gatewood, on SW Thistle between 35th and California.

Vehicles and their contents remain targets too. Car prowler(s) hit Tyson twice in less than a week, near 42nd SW and Hill in Admiral:

I’m a videographer and store some of my equipment in the back of my car under a cover which prevents it from being seen from the outside, but they busted my back window and took between $3,000-5,000 worth of lighting, tripods and misc gear. I assume the first time was just a test to see if my alarm would go off and they returned less than a week later to finish the job. I know I should have learned my lesson the first time but didn’t believe they would be back…lesson learned.

Police say they just can’t repeat this often enough … don’t leave anything in your car. Anything at all. Even if you think it’s hidden, even if you think it would be of no value to anyone else.

Meantime, Kellen‘s stolen trailer was found, minus its contents:

Last Friday morning the 20th between 7:15 and 8:30 my black enclosed utility trailer was stolen from my parking spot at the Public Storage facility located on Olson Place. The thief someone managed to remove the coupler lock and make off with the trailer using a U-Haul truck (according to the limited security video reviewed by the facility). The trailer was recovered the following day by Renton Police but all my tools and equipment used from my contracting business were missing. While I will very likely never see any of my tools again, maybe there is a very slight chance that another tenant there saw/remembers something suspicious from that morning that could be of help to the police in possibly finding those responsible. Or if all else, this could serve as a notice to current tenants of that facility to take extra precautions with your belongings that this kind of thing can happen; even in a seemingly well-secured place.

Last but not least:

FOUND BICYCLE: Look familiar?

Mark sent the photo, explaining that it turned up this evening on the side of his house, on 64th SW between Alki SW and Admiral Way. (If you’re missing a bicycle and haven’t seen the other found bikes featured here recently, check the Crime Watch page for links.)

Two court updates in recent West Seattle cases:

ARSON SUSPECT LOSES BAIL-CUT BID: When serial-arson suspect Jacob Kokko was arraigned on Monday, he pleaded not guilty and asked for a bail reduction. Both are fairly routine at this stage in a case. Judge Dean Lum said no to the bail-cut request, so Kokko remains held in lieu of $300,000 bail. Two weeks have passed since prosecutors charged the 22-year-old High Point resident in connection with three October fires.

ROBBERY SUSPECT NOT CHARGED: The $100,000 bail first set for an Arbor Heights man suspected in the recent holdup at the Westwood Village GameStop store is no longer in effect – prosecutors have not filed charges, saying the investigation is still ongoing. But he’s still in jail because of a $10,000 failure-to-appear warrant in a domestic-violence assault case.

In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning – one stolen car and two possibly stolen, abandoned bicycles. First, just out of the WSB inbox, from Grace:

My blue 1997 Geo Prism was taken from in front of our house on 11th Ave SW in Highland Park in the last few hours. If anyone should see it around, much appreciate their contacting SPD (case # 15 410052) so I might be able to retrieve it. License plate ANC 4242. Thanks.

Two bicycles have turned up, abandoned and likely stolen. First, Gary found this one left outside his garage door – “Body is painted over in blue and black. No sign of brand name.”:

And Patrick says the next one was abandoned in the 3200 block of Benton Pl. SW sometime last week:

Something for Crime Watch? Once you’ve reported it to police, e-mail us – editor@westseattleblog.com – unless it’s breaking news, in which case, please text or call 206-293-6302 – thank you!

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:36 PM: Car prowls are the crime you’re most likely to fall victim to, SPD says. And from the reader-report files, we have word of another one. From Rebecca:

I wanted to report that my car window broken (Saturday) evening between 4:30 and 5:15. The car was parked on the street, by a lamp post and a bus stop on 63rd near Constellation Park. My black, leather bag was stolen.

It has “1st Aid” on it with a Red Cross like symbol, an adjustable long, cloth handle strap that’s like a thin belt. There’s a purple cloth wallet in it and an orange and white zippered bag like they sell at Pharmaca.

If you see any of those items – please comment; lately readers have found discarded car-prowl loot and it’s subsequently made its way back to its owners. Please also heed police’s advice: Don’t leave ANYTHING in your vehicle, regardless of how well it’s hidden, or whether you think it’s completely worthless to anyone else … thieves do break in on spec, just pulling out anything they find, to be rushed away and combed through later.

FOUND: Not necessarily stolen, but in our experience lately, these tend to be the kinds of items that are bycatch for car prowlers and tossed aside somewhere. Salle reports:

I found a notebook and textbook last night with an exam noting (first name starts with C, second with B). It was found in the alley behind my house in Fauntleroy Cove, between Trenton and Concord Streets, alley being 46th.

She’s been searching for the person online, but no luck yet, so she sent word in case the person missing these items – through a theft or otherwise – reads WSB.

ADDED 1:53 PM: Two more reports just came in, so we’re adding them. From Jason:

Car was prowled near upper Fauntleroy as well around 2 am this morning. We are on 41st ave in a secure garage. Got away with softball and soccer gear that was in the trunk. It tried to take off with the golf clubs but failed. They were found hidden in another part of the garage. It looked like it was coming back for them. Keep an eye open for a North Face Bag and Hershel Bag with dirty sports gear in it. It’s most likely mine and would love it back if found around the neighborhood.

And from Julie, a possibly abandoned bicycle not far from where Salle made her discoveries (mentioned above):

This bike appears to be abandoned — been here, unlocked, for several days. 46th & Trenton. There also were school books and papers scattered in a nearby alley, but someone else has taken that stuff away. (I just heard about that, never saw it myself.) Could be connected.

1:47 PM: As police warned again at last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, this is high season for car prowls, since thieves will assume everyone has something in the car, even if it’s not visible. We have two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share today:

WESTCREST PARK CAR PROWL: Ann reports that her car window was smashed and purse taken while she was walking her dogs at the park on Friday afternoon, 4:15-4:45 pm.

UPPER FAUNTLEROY CAR PROWL: Cate‘s driver-side car window was smashed in around 2:30 am today, but, she adds, “I think the alarm must have scared them off because they didn’t rummage around and take anything. It was parked on the street in front of my house (in the 8400 block of) 42nd Ave SW.”

Here’s car-prowl prevention advice from SPD.

5:20 PM: So far, three more car prowl reports have come in via comments below.