We’ve got crime and stolen packages, feral cats and a found iPod – but first, the crows!
Anyone trekking to the north entrance to Maple Leaf Reservoir Park will 
notice.
A pair of crows with a nest at 12th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 89th Street are ardently defending their young – to the point of dive-bombing passers by.
Our crows are actually a little late – most chicks have fledged by mid-June.
Our news partner The Seattle Times has mapped more than 50 such crow attacks in the area and created a map. That coverage is here.
In other news:
Art emails over the weekend:
This morning, in broad daylight, at about 8 a.m. (Saturday morning) someone tried to steal our car.
They easily got into the locked car and managed pick the lock on “the club” (the old one with a double-sided key)
They were unable to get the car started but took a few bags of stuff out of the trunk.
This was on Northeast 100th Street near 15th Avenue Northeast.
We reported it to the police.
The officer said the club was a good deterrent but not 100% effective.
I just wanted to let the neighborhood folks know to keep their eyes open especially since it was in broad daylight.
And Greg emailed last week:
On my way home today I saw an individual removing packages from a neighbors house on Northeast 82nd Street and Eighth Avenue Northeast. I followed them and got their license plate.
I decided to loop back to the home to see if the neighbor was home-the individuals had returned and were clearly interested in whether I was observing them. Upon reporting it to SPD they informed me that (particular) car has a high number of “hits” when it comes to reports of suspicious activity in this and surrounding areas. But they have yet to apprehend them.
He described the car as a black Saturn VUE SUV, and the occupants as two Hispanic males and a white male with a shaved head “SPD says these crimes along with home invasions spike in the good weather so folks should keep a look out.”
Meanwhile, Jessie reports a found iPod on Saturday. “We found a black iPod in front of our house on Northeast 96th Street between Eighth Avenue Northeast and Roosevelt Way Northeast. It belongs to someone named Nicholas but it is locked. We would like to find the owner; can you please post something on the blog and if they can unlock it they can have it back.”
Finally, we have a neighbor, Sharon, with a plea for the Friends of Campus Cats Jumble Sale.
Friends of Campus Cats is a hairball of a nonprofit that advocates humane management of feral cats in Maple Leaf, UW campus and elsewhere. The jumble sale, which depends on donated goods, is our only fund-raiser. The sale is set for July 26, but the goods are needed now.
Sadly, their website doesn’t seem active.
Needed are donated goods. We gratefully accept books, CDs, DVDs, knickknacks, collectibles, kitchenware, crafts/hobby supplies, small appliances and even smaller furniture, jewelry and the like. All proceeds go to help the cats. Come one, come all; even dog lovers are welcome!
Did I mention we need more stuff?! We will gladly pick up if you are unable to deliver. Please call or email to make arrangements.
Also needed are volunteers to help on the day of the sale. Please email or call for details.
Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats
206-442-2051 (vm)
friendsofcampuscats@gmail.com
Sale location same as last year: follow signs on Roosevelt Way Northeast on July 26 or watch our website. We open at 10 a.m.; no early birds, no whining.
Neighbors purportedly claim to have seen the friends and the guy in the middle of the 300 block of 89th taking packages. Allegedly they were following the FedEx or UPS guy. One guy on a bike in his late 20s early 30s was opening packages on the sidewalk throwing the boxes down in the neighbors yard. Neighbor scared him and he left.
—– quote
If they get in the car and get past the club you might ask yourself who has had custody of your keys recently? Easy to copy.
—- end quote
I assure you, they did not have a copy of my key to the car or the club.
I have very high definition video I supplied the police, with a very clear image of the perp.
They used a “jiggler” key to pick the club.
It took him about 5-6 minutes to get if off.
The officer said he was a professional car thief and was very interested in finding him.
I am guessing he is responsible for at least a few of the numerous auto thefts in the neighborhood.
I will post an image and a link to the video once I hear back from the investigators (assuming I do)
General description is:
White Male approximately 25-35
tan shorts, dark hoodie, red/black high-top shoes
tribal tattoos on both calves
He looked like an “everyday guy” and not down and out at all. Meaning, someone you would see walking around/ to the bus on any given morning in the MapleGate neighborhood.
He was quite comfortable and was in the vehicle for about 12 minutes.
Joggers and people walking dogs walked by within 5 feet of him while he was in the car.
If someone is in possession of stolen goods the least that would happen is they would be returned to the owner if at all possible. Still a good outcome.
The Campus Cats website may not be active, but the Friends of Campus Cats page on petfinder.com is:
http://members.petfinder.com/~WA145/index.html
Unless the cop saw the driver take those packages it’s hard to convict the driver, thus making an arrest significantly less likely. Being in possession of a bunch of boxes with address labels is hardly illegal. Not saying it’s impossible to convict.
Tim when they pull over the vehicle, they get ID from the driver – then they see all the Fedex and UPS parcels in the back addressed to somebody else – then they arrest the driver. It’s ordinary police work and it’s not that hard. Don’t you like it when the police arrest criminals? I’m a nut I guess – I like it when thieves get caught.
Could be stolen plates…my neighbors had their plates stolen and the thieves put a set from a stolen car back on it…so the neighbors wouldn’t realize their plates had been taken and report them missing. Tricky.
Cops had pulled over an identical car (stolen Honda) with their plates on it.
If they get in the car and get past the club you might ask yourself who has had custody of your keys recently? Easy to copy.
Remember the fellow who was sneaking into occupied residences at night because he knew the keys to the car would be there…and would then take the car, returning later when the owners were at work and using the garage door opener to access the house and grab electronics, jewelry and money?
I have a keypad remote in my car, if somebody breaks into it, they won’t be able to open the garage door.
If the cops pull over the suspect vehicle, likely the driver has warrants, so some good could come of it.
Meth, the root of much evil. The zombies live.
I thought I posted this yesterday but I will try again with a true story that happened to me years back. I was hanging at my house and got a call from the police. apparently someone had pumped some gas and not paid for it and the clerk gave the police my license plate. So while they had me on the phone another officer was outside my house checking mu car that was ice cold. Long and short of it wasn’t me but I was shocked at the lengths they took. Well, that was years back.
Thomas–what are the cops going to do once they pull the car over? “Hey driver, did you happen to steal any packages? No? OK, then have a nice day!” …and we’re back to square one.
Knowing the license plate is probable cause to pull over the vehicle – I hope they will.
About 2 weeks ago on 6/19 there was a home break in on Latona Ave NE between 85th and 88th at 1:30pm. The suspect was caught – thankfully. And the week before that there were at least 2 car break ins, mine included on the same street/cross streets. Too much activity!
There are two reasons for this:
1. Knowing a license plate doesn’t help the cops find the car. See where the car goes and tell the call receiver (911 operator) what street, what direction.
2. Cops don’t arrest license plates–they arrest people. You’ll need to provide a very detailed description of the people and it would be best if you could pick out their faces in a photo lineup for these scumbags to be apprehended.