Thief makes off with cash, leaves computer

On Dec. 24, Seattle police responded to a burglary at a business located on the 5300 block of Ballard Avenue Northwest. The owner of the massage therapy business called police and met them at the scene. She told offers that sometime that morning she had two painters working on a back room. The back door was left unlocked for the painters to enter the business. During the hours of 9:30am and 10am, a thief entered the business through the back door and went into the back office. The suspect rummaged through some desk drawers and found an envelope that contained $200. The suspect also went to the front of the business and broke into the cash registers. The till was emptied of $150. Oddly, the suspect left behind an iPad computer device that was part of the till. A witness, who worked at a neighboring business, told officers she saw a suspicious looking man outside the massage therapy business. She sat outside with a co-worker, smoked a cigarette and watched the suspect. The suspect hung around the front of the businesses, aimlessly looking around. The witness said she would be able to recognize the suspect if she saw him again. The victim told officers she plans to install security cameras in her business.

Burglar yanks bottles of champagne; UW watches taken

On Dec. 24, police responded to a residential burglary at a home located on the 7700 block of Earl Avenue Northwest. The complainants told officers that they had left their home to run errands, and when they returned they noticed a bedroom window was slightly ajar. Jewelry boxes on their nightstands had been rummaged through. Diamond rings, gold necklaces and watches were taken. One of the watches was a gold watch with a UW holiday bowl design. Other rooms in the home had been rifled through. There were three bottles of fine champagne taken from the kitchen. Officers found a partial footprint outside and latent prints throughout the scene. The complainants provided comparison prints for officers. Detectives are investigating the incident.

Grinch-thief takes jewelry and Christmas presents

On Dec. 26, police were dispatched to a reported burglary that happened at a residence residing on the 7500 block of 29th Avenue Northwest. The complainants told officers that they had left town with their two children for the night. When they returned the following night, they knew their home was not in the same state as when they had left. Drawers were pulled out. Christmas presents were missing. Pearl necklaces, gold watches and diamond earrings were also taken from the master bedroom. Checks, cash and passports were undisturbed. There were computers and other electronics in the home but none were taken.The complainant told officers that all their doors were locked and that they could not find any open windows. They are baffled as to how the suspect entered their home. No fingerprints were found at the scene.