Something in particular
On March 19 a man who rents a basement apartment on the 5700 block of S.W. Spokane St. came home in the early afternoon to find his place in disarray. Someone broke in through a basement bathroom window and, as the reporting officer put it, “his bedroom had been completely ransacked. Drawers rummaged through; the trashcan had been overturned; luggage pieces from the closet had been opened and checked; miscellaneous personal items, paperwork, etc were strewn everywhere … the refrigerator door was open.” Oddly, usual-target electronics were untouched, including a laptop and digital cameras. High-end alcohol in the kitchen was ignored and the only thing that appeared to be missing was a hunk of chocolate taken from the fridge and partially bitten away. The victim and responding officer concluded the unknown suspect(s) must have been looking for something in particular, although the victim had no idea what that might be.
Yank, pull, give up
Someone partially pried open the door of a commercial building on the 5600 block of 26th Ave S.W. to get at some copper wires. The unknown suspect apparently tried to extract the large wires from the gap in the door, but gave up as they were still attached to the structure when police arrived. As a side note, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has drafted legislation to require metal recyclers to document and photograph transactions and comply with a list of known metal thieves they should not do business with. The legislation is expected to be referred to the city council sometime soon and could make life more difficult for copper and scrap metal thieves attempting to sell their stolen goods.
An inside job?
An unknown suspect broke into the grounds of a commercial business on 35th Ave S.W. overnight on March 20 and stole several scrap metal auto parts. It appeared the suspect had to make it over a barbed wire fence to gain entry. An employee approached the responding officer and subtly “reported he believes the burglary is an inside job, someone with a drug habit.” No possible suspect names were given.
Talking smack and a post-fight snack
Last month an officer responded to an assault call on the 9000 block of 20th Ave S.W. and spoke with the victim (who was a bit roughed up, but nothing serious) and two witnesses. They told the officer the altercation started when the victim of the assault went to the suspect’s house to confront him about “talking smack.” A fight broke out between the two, fists flew, and it ended when the suspect picked up a broom and started swinging. The victim and two acquaintances fled at the sight of the broom and stopped at a 7-11 for a “post fight snack.” Snack secured, they continued to walk home when they noticed the family van of the suspect approaching. They knew “through indirect sources” that the suspect’s father was “strict and mean” so they hid behind some bushes. The father got out and chased the juveniles, catching the victim. The victim told police the father threw him to the ground and started kicking him in the head. The son (and other half of the earlier melee) got out and joined in the kicking until a witness said he/she was calling 911. One of the friends waited until the suspects fled until coming out of the bushes to check on the victim. Police searched for the father/son duo to no avail.
Burglaries by block: 4100 36th Ave SW, 7300 30th Ave SW, 3000 49th Ave SW, 2400 SW Genesee St, 7000 35th Ave SW, 8100 17th Ave SW, 9000 39th Ave SW, 10200 37th Pl. SW, 2700 SW Kenyon St
Car prowls by block: 2600 SW Kenyon St, 9200 8th Ave SW, corner of California Ave SW/SW Donald St, 5400 41st Ave SW, 3000 SW Bradford St, 2600 SW Kenyon St, 3000 SW Holden St, 9000 8th Ave SW, 4000 38th Ave SW
Vehicle thefts by block: 6000 Lanham Pl SW, 100000 41st Ave SW, 4500 Glenn Way SW, 5900 34th Ave SW