Burglars in a retired police cruiser
Just before 3 p.m. on Aug. 18 a neighbor on the 6700 block of 18th Ave S.W. noticed unusual activity at a nearby house. A retired police Crown Victoria cruiser, white in color with a spotlight and push bumper, was backed into a nearby driveway. The neighbor noticed a driver in the vehicle, and then saw two men exit the house carrying a 42” Samsung television. The neighbor yelled at the suspects and dialed 911, prompting the men to jump into the vehicle and speed away westbound on S.W. Myrtle St. A fourth suspect, left behind by his partners in crime, was seen fleeing the residence on foot. The witness described all four men as East African in appearance. In addition to the TV, the suspects stole a MacBook Pro and a 12 gauge shotgun. Police gathered several fingerprints and the witness was able to record a partial license plate from the getaway vehicle. According to the police report, authorities were able to track the distinct vehicle to a suspect that has been arrested for residential burglaries in the past.
“Freeze, we’re the police!”
Three juvenile males were walking home near the corner of 35th Ave S.W. and S.W. Barton shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 18 when they noticed two men following them. They ducked into the 7-11 to use the bathroom and, when they figured the coast was clear, exited the store and continued to one of the juvenile’s homes for a sleepover. Suddenly the suspects reappeared and began making small talk with the victims until one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and demanded cell phones and wallets. One victim told police the man with the gun said, “Freeze, we’re the police!” before robbing them.
Quick thinking thwarts burglary
A female victim was inside her Highland Park Way house on Aug. 16 just after noon when a male came to her door and rang the bell three times. Not knowing the man, she decided not to answer. Minutes later she heard the suspect trying to kick down her basement door. She ran downstairs, locked an inner door that led to the main house and called 911. The witness said she saw the man flee on foot moments before police arrived. The suspect was described as a black male in his early 20s, 5’6” tall and wearing a blue and white Ecko Unit sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Disgruntled ex-employee?
An unknown suspect tried and pried the front door of a California Ave S.W. business on Aug. 17, but to no avail. Instead, the business owner said, she found a nail had been driven into the sidewall of her car tire. When she removed it the tire deflated. While there were no suspects the woman said she had fired a few employees recently.
Editor’s note: The usual recap of robberies, burglaries, car prowls and vehicle thefts by block for West Seattle was unavailable this week. A Seattle Police spokesperson said the service should be back up and running soon.
