The unwelcome volunteer
On Sept. 6 an elderly woman returned to her apartment complex on the 900 block of 2nd Ave S.W. to a bewildering sight. She had been in the hospital for nearly a month due to health complications and, in the initial rush for treatment, left her apartment door unlocked. It was obvious someone had been staying in her place while she was gone. Dirty dishes were piled high in the kitchen, food, clothing and jewelry were missing, her room was a mess of someone else’s items, someone else’s clothes were in the dryer, someone put a sheep-skin style blanket on the couch, and there were a myriad of notes posted about the place listing “improvements” someone had done (for example, “Clean pillow case”) and a bill for a few hundred dollars for the work. Police were able to quickly identify their suspect – a man with a cane and a yellow t-shirt with the words “Volunteer” across the chest who also lived in the apartment complex. The man told officers the victim asked him to take care of the place while she was gone (she denied it) and that he was just volunteering his time “out of the kindness of his heart.” The suspect gave several contradictory answers as to why he was in the apartment and why several items were missing (he said the jewelry had been taken for cleaning). Due to health problems of his own, police decided not to take the suspect to jail. They told him to stay away from the victim and her apartment and that he would be notified if charges were filed.
Several guns stolen
An unknown burglar broke into a S.W. 102nd St. home on Sept. 10 and stole several firearms. Missing when the victim returned home from work were a Remington .243 bolt action hunting rifle, a .22 caliber Winchester rifle, a .35 caliber Marlin rifle, a Remington .870 shotgun and a .22 caliber Ruger pistol. Police believe the suspect wore gloves (no fingerprints were found) and, since nothing else was taken, may have entered the home specifically for guns.
Give and take
A woman returned to her 31st Ave S.W. home on Sept. 9 after being away for a few hours and noted her bedroom flashlight was missing, but her recently stolen medication was returned. The house’s alarm system was armed and did not trip. There were no signs of forced entry. The victim believes her “ex” is to blame and said he/she (gender was not identified) is stalking her.
Robberies by block: 5400 23rd Ave S.W., 5200 California Ave S.W., corner of S.W. Othello St/ 46 Pl S.W., corner of California Ave S.W./S.W. Alaska St
Burglaries by block: 3900 S.W. 102nd St, 4500 S.W. Atlantic St, 7700 13th Ave S.W., 7900 Detroit Ave S.W., 3400 S.W. Myrtle St, 8100 22nd Ave S.W., 8800 32nd Ave S.W., 9400 Delridge Way S.W., 4500 Delridge Way S.W., 5900 Delridge Way S.W., 900 S.W. Thistle St., 7900 5th Ave S.W., 2100 46th Ave S.W., 9200 2nd Ave S.W.
Car prowls by block: 6000 16th Ave S.W., 8600 46th Ave S.W., 3200 Harbor Ave S.W., 4500 36th Ave S.W., 4400 Delridge Way S.W., 3000 S.W. Avalon Way, 9000 9th Ave S.W., 5900 31st Ave S.W.
Vehicle thefts by block: 10800 37th Ave S.W., 4500 California Ave S.W., 4500 Delridge Way S.W., 6500 Delridge Way S.W., 7900 15th Ave S.W., 8400 17th Ave S.W., 9700 31st Ave S.W., 2500 S.W. Trenton St., 2600 42nd Ave S.W., corner of S.W. 99 St./ 39th Ave S.W., 3400 S.W. Cloverdale St., 9000 11th Ave S.W., 8400 18th Ave S.W.
