Christine Juarez, director of West Seattle Performing Arts, leapt into action when faced with a thief this week.
She walked into the dance school, located at 4210 SW Edmunds S, around 10 a.m. on Monday, June 19 to prepare for the adult ballet classes she teaches.
“I shut the door partially and went to hang up my purse,” she said. “I heard the door open and someone walk in. I thought it was my husband.”
When Juarez looked up, however, she saw the door shutting and the shadow of someone leaving the space. She went outside, and by then, the man was crossing the street.
“He had a lot of bags,” she said. “And then I realized he had my computer bag. I ran out the door and out through the traffic.”
The thief kept a steady pace. “He did not speed up, almost like he didn’t want to call attention to himself,” Juarez said. “I was screaming constantly, ‘Drop it now.’”
After running after him a few yards in the alley, the man dropped Juarez’s bag and about three more, as well as a camera.
“He must have been snatching stuff from all over,” Juarez said.
Another man saw the pursuit and started running after the thief as well, who eventually dropped a few more bags.
One of Juarez’s friends saw her running and followed the suspect in a car – but lost him at the end of Fauntleroy Way SW.
Juarez described the man as young, white, slender and with dark hair.
She wants her neighbors in the Junction to know that crime can happen at any time, even in the morning – and to take proactive measures to protect themselves.
“There are people out there ready to pounce at any opportunity,” she said. “And that kind of person acts quickly. Be aware. Don’t take things for granted.”
