Police say two to four burglars were seen on survaillance video breaking into the rear entrance of the Senior Center of West Seattle Sunday at 10:45 p.m. Several hundred dollars worth of goods were stolen. Here is a hole made by the criminals upstairs from the rear entry.
The Senior Center of West Seattle was burglarized at 10:45 p.m. Sunday following an accordion club that rented out the space. An investigation is ongoing.
The center, located at 4217 S.W. Oregon St., had a heavy 1950's-era safe in a first floor office that was pried into with a crowbar. Taken was $2,500 of Safeway gift cards, $400 in postage stamps, $700 cash, plus the center's daily take, adding up to more than $5,000, according to director Karen Sisson.
“I feel violated,” said Sisson Monday morning. “It's pretty low. They kicked two holes in our walls for no reason, one by the safe in our office, (where the items were contained) and another upstairs by the entrance.”
Sisson pointed out that the center is not insulated to regular senior visitors, but is very public. The West Seattle Chamber meets there, as well as the Lions Club, the Junction Association, and the space hosts events and wedding anniversaries.
Video surveillance shows two to four men breaking into the rear of the building using a sharp-ended crowbar, possibly the one used to open the safe. The incident, including the video, is being investigated by Detective Nick Bauer of the Southwest Precinct.
"They came back an hour later," said Sisson. "The safe was heavy, heavy, heavy. "Jay Prees, our IT guy, discovered it this morning. "We have to have the doors remade, the walls repaired. That's probably going to cost $3,000."
She said the center is accepting donations. Go to: www.sc-ws.org.
