WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mailbox, car break-ins

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MAILBOX BREAK-INS: The photo is from Mark in the 6700 block of Beach Drive. He reports: “Our mailbox was broken into by this gentleman Sunday morning, April 20th, at 4:15 am. About a half a dozen other neighbors reported their mailboxes broken into Sunday morning along Beach Drive.”

CAR BREAK-IN: This photo and report are from Omie:

“My car was broken into between 5 and 5:15 p.m. (Monday) … parked at 42nd and Oregon streets. I found my rear window smashed and backpack stolen.”

REMINDER: You can hear updates from, and talk with, local police at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting (6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster).

Lola April 23, 2019 (12:47 pm)

Looks like he is riding a bike to get to all of the mail boxes. I cannot believe how brazen these people are to get into your mailbox.

Q April 23, 2019 (4:10 pm)

As opposed to the people who go door to door stealing packages in their cars, with license plates clearly visible. Brazen.

LK April 23, 2019 (1:38 pm)

Gentleman is a charitable description….sorry to the person with the smashed window and stolen backpack…was it hidden? It’s becoming more important to hide anything kept in cars these days, not sure if there’s any part of town immune from the smash and grab.

just wondering April 23, 2019 (1:42 pm)

And also has a flashlight on his head.

Apey April 23, 2019 (1:57 pm)

“Our mailbox was broken into by this scumbag Sunday morning” (There, I fixed it for you).

Sonja April 23, 2019 (2:22 pm)

I feel so bad for these people that they have to steal to eat. There needs to be more resources to help them. Maybe then there will be less crime.

flimflam April 23, 2019 (5:04 pm)

oh stop – there are numerous food programs, churches that feed folks, etc.nobody in this city NEEDS to steal to eat. they need to steal to support their drug habit.
- Chuck April 23, 2019 (8:18 pm)
  
  Thank you, Flimflam. I am as compassionate as anyone (as I am sure you are), but there just has to be an end to the circular enabling at some point, right?
ST April 23, 2019 (5:06 pm)

No stealing necessary, just go to the food bank or there are other groups that provide hot meals at locations like the Union Gospel Mission and some groups bring meal, beverages, clothing it to camps on the street. Absolutely no reason to steal to eat. People do steal but it’s to get quick cash for things not given out by homeless resources, like drugs and alcohol.
Donna Snow April 23, 2019 (5:31 pm)

Eat or buy drugs?
BJG April 26, 2019 (7:54 am)

Sonja, when the thief broke into my car two weeks ago there was food in the car and warm clothing and blankets. He didn’t take those. He took what he could sell for quick cash. Our church has a community hot meal twice a month and food, sleeping bags and other help for the asking. He doesn’t come by. Most thieves around here are addicts.

Scott April 23, 2019 (2:26 pm)

These are very desperate human beings who need help. Scumbags? How dare you. I know it’s bad and it’s a very sad situation when this becomes your life.

Huh? April 23, 2019 (7:39 pm)

How dare he call a thief a scumbag? This is out of hand when we can’t label people what they are. The thief is not a hero. The thief stole personal property from another human being. That is not ok under 99.9% of circumstances. We need to stop making excuses and start holding people accountable. Thieves are scumbags and it is more likely than not they didn’t use the money they got from this for necessities. They do not deserve the benefit of the doubt right off of the bat. Turning a blind eye to these activities doesn’t make you a better person than I am or the original poster.

neighbor April 23, 2019 (2:40 pm)

Unless the mailboxes and car contained groceries, these are not people who “have to steal to eat.” I’m all about giving people the benefit of the doubt, but let’s be honest here.

Realitycheck April 23, 2019 (2:44 pm)

I agree that calling someone a scumbag on a public forum is not necessary, but let’s be realistic. Car/package/mailbox thieves are not stealing so they can eat, they’re stealing so they can get high.

KD April 23, 2019 (2:56 pm)

Not a ‘gentleman.’ And most likely not for food. For drugs. Multiple, multiple resources for food, for programs getting off addiction, for job training, etc. He doesn’t give a damn about you or what identify theft he will put you through (Scott). How ‘dare’ anyone defend a criminal who harms innocent people. Scott.. step up and take care of him, invite him into your home and your table! Btw, I think this resembles the Highland Park prolific mailbox pilfered. Same hat(?) Any HPark folks along 8th. SW that keep getting hit by him recognize him also? 😡

T Rex April 23, 2019 (3:03 pm)

Hey Scott and Sonja, Go out and find these people and have a BBQ at your house, the weather is starting to get warmer. Ya’ll have a great time and let us all know how many items are stolen from your house that day after all your new friends leave.

Apey April 23, 2019 (3:13 pm)

Having known someone who had their life completely turned upside down from identity theft, I feel very comfortable with my scumbag description.

Laws April 23, 2019 (3:34 pm)

AMEN KD. Calling these criminal thugs “victims” simply validates there crimes. If they break into YOUR house bet you would see the light.

Barry April 23, 2019 (4:06 pm)

Scott and Sonja….do you not see what is happening around here? When did it become OK to steal from others? You are out of your mind if you think they are doing this to get food. I had someone in our back alley peering into our cars high as a kite saying he was going to kill us (yes it was reported) and trust me he was not looking to get stuff to sell and buy food. What would you like these people to be called?

Honestly Speaking April 25, 2019 (3:31 am)

Stealing mail isn’t going to bring forth anything much more than wasted time especially this time of year.Boredom High hopes and tweaked out digglers not hesitating to take a deeper look into their pointless actions 7 out of 10 times gain nothing but useless items to anyone other than the victim.People empty your mailboxes daily if on vacation have your mail held at your nearest post office.Being a victim is no fun but being an addict with no morals or klepto without conscience doesn’t seem to appealing either.The less temptation and bigger hassles to achieve nothing will eventually get old and tiresome.Keep cars completely empty while disabling them by pulling two of the main relays and a spark plug or two.Just even disconnecting the positive cable to the battery will do the job.When it comes to criminals and thwarting their attention elsewhere thinking like one will allow one to know exactly how to prevent one from succeeding. And for those who wouldn’t know where to begin there is always dummies or mannequins a cardboard sillouette anything that may resemble a human figure on a porch or placed in a car or sensor activated barking dog alert or sirens with flashing lights along with backed up surveillance will not only scare the crap out of em but will probably get you a couple of laughs to boot.Theres always going to be lawless petty thieves regardless of Economy housing etc got to stay one step ahead and beat em at their own game.Most importantly know your neighbors and stay aware of who is coming and going thru your hood.