Update 1:30 p.m.
Vince, in comments below, reports it was his house that was burglarized:
Our car and house on 85th were burglarized on Monday. The thief entered the (unlocked) car, opened the garage door with the opener, came into the house, stole a few things inside, found the car keys and took the car, all while we were sleeping in the house. I can only hope that the suspect that was caught was the same one and that the police are encouraging him to reveal what happened to our car. Please, everyone, lock your doors, and don’t leave a garage door opener in your car.
Update: 1 p.m.
Beth writes:
Woke up at 5am this morning to police chasing a suspect alongside our house and into our back yard where they apprehended and arrested him. He had been breaking into cars in the back alley connecting 15th and 17th between 75th and 76th St. Our neighbors called and the response was quick and efficient. Thanks to the Seattle police for cracking down on the recent rash of break ins. There are better ways to be woken up, but the result was appreciated.
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Since Wednesday afternoon, when we posted a reader’s report on car prowls, we’ve had three more neighborhood residents weigh in.
This morning Jon wrote: “Early this morning my car was broken into in my driveway. Radio was taken. I’m in the 200 block of Northeast 91st Street.”
Dave, himself the victim of a smashed truck window, wrote: “Friends of ours on 85th east of Fifth reported their car stolen after thief used garage door opener from car to break into the house and steal some items, all while they were sleeping Monday night.”
And Gordy reported: “Car broken in, behind Kona Kitchen sometime early Thursday morning. Perp turned outside light off!”
He added, “what’s going on in this neighborhood?”
Dave added: “Anyone interested in a block watch program?”
I’m curious to know if there’s a site one should report suspicious activities in the area. This afternoon at around 4:15pm, I saw a dark sedan slowly driving down our street like it was checking out houses…what caught my attention was that it was an older model sedan (Mercedes, I think), it had TX plates and the driver was a younger kid (late teens, early twenties) wearing a bright track jacket. He drove down our street heading west then turned around in the apartment complex parking lot and headed east again, slowly like before. I may be overreacting but with a forced entry burglary on our street (98th) earlier this month and all the car thefts in the neighborhood, I’m staying vigilant and I hope others do the same.
We had one of our cars broken into Thursday morning near 91st and 5th. Oddly enough, they didn’t take the garage door opener but did take a set of unused windshield wipers that were in the car (an odd thing to steal).
Last night someone tagged (sprayed graffiti on) the fence at the corner of 15th and 100th.
What *is* going on in this neighborhood? This is just crazy.
I think starting block watch programs would be a great idea for Maple Leaf.
Our car and house on 85th were burglarized on Monday, as noted above. The thief entered the (unlocked) car, opened the garage door with the opener, came into the house, stole a few things inside, found the car keys and took the car, all while we were sleeping in the house. I can only hope that the suspect that was caught was the same one and that the police are encouraging him to reveal what happened to our car. Please, everyone, lock your doors, and don’t leave a garage door opener in your car. I’ve learned my lesson but it was an expensive schooling.
In case anyone is interested, we posted all of the downloads and info (including how to start a block watch program) from the November Roosevelt/Ravenna/Maple Leaf Crime Prevention Meeting: http://www.roosiehood.com/2010/11/18/neighborhood-crime-prevention-tips-from-the-seattle-police/