**Happy New Year everyone, here's to a safe, productive and happy 2013! Thank you for checking out the Police Blotter and other Herald news. We greatly appreciate your support of local journalism** - Ty Swenson

“I have an emergency!”
Around 6 p.m. on Dec. 17 a woman was waiting at a bus stop near the corner of Delridge Way S.W. and S.W. Trenton St. when she was approached by a man who asked if she had change for a $20. She declined, and kept an eye on him as he sauntered away, noticing him stop to talk with another man down the block. Soon, the second man walked up to her and proclaimed, “I need to use your phone, I need to call my wife! I have an emergency!” She declined the second request, and the suspect responded, “I’ll hurt you if you don’t give it to me!” The victim held out her phone, hoping not to be attacked, and the suspect took it. As he walked away, the suspect continued to assure the victim he was just calling his wife … until he was out of sight. No other descriptors were given, but the suspect was wearing a NASCAR jacket with red piping and a large DUPONT patch on the back.

Lost, found, lost again
On Dec. 7 a woman saw someone crawling out of her neighbor’s window shortly after 1 p.m. on the 7500 block of 34th Ave S.W., prompting her to call 911. When police arrived they found a broken window and a trail of jewelry and coins leading from the backyard through an apartment complex on 35th Ave S.W. Police searched for their suspect but were unable to track her/him down. A few hours later, a man living a block away from the burglary called 911 to report he found a towel in his yard filled with jewelry and wristwatches. Instead of waiting for the police to arrive and collect the evidence (which seemed to match up), he placed the towel and stolen property on his front porch and left. By the time police arrived, the evidence had disappeared.

Finders are not always keepers
It was a little after 10 p.m. on Dec. 5 when a man living in an apartment on the 9200 block of 16th Ave S.W. left his place briefly to park his vehicle in a better spot. Only gone for a few minutes, he left his front door unlocked. As the man started walking up the stairs to his place he came face-to-face with a man and woman whose arms were loaded up with his personal belongings. The burglars took off and the victim gave chase, eventually catching up with the female who had a laptop, TV and clothes in two bags. As he ripped the bags from the burglar’s possession she yelled that it was her stuff and he should let go. He did not, as it was his stuff. The other suspect got away with some lesser items.

Reported crime from Dec. 20-28:

Robberies by block: 6500 35th Ave S.W., 6900 Delridge Way S.W., corner of Delridge Way S.W./S.W. Thistle St.

Burglaries by block: 1200 S.W. Orchard St., 4100 23rd Ave S.W., 7700 17th Ave S.W., 9000 35th Ave S.W., 9400 27th Ave S.W., 9200 2nd Ave S.W., 6400 California Ave S.W., 10800 32nd Ave S.W., 8800 24th Ave S.W., 10600 32nd Ave S.W., 1300 Alki Ave S.W., 4300 30th Ave S.W., 5700 S.W. Admiral Way, 3000 S.W. 106th St., 5400 49th Ave S.W., 3100 S.W. Graham St., 8800 29th Ave S.W., 6000 Lanham Pl S.W., 9300 Fauntleroy Way S.W., 3800 S.W. Myrtle St., 4200 S.W. Sullivan St.

Car prowls by block: 8100 15th Ave S.W., 9400 15th Ave S.W., 3200 S.W. 110th St. (2), 10800 32nd Ave S.W., 600 S.W. Kenyon St., 8000 Fauntleroy Way S.W., corner of Alki Ave S.W./62nd Ave S.W.,

Vehicle thefts by block: 8800 9th Ave S.W., 7200 16th Ave S.W., 4100 21st Ave S.W., 5400 Fauntleroy Way S.W., 5200 35th Ave S.W., 5000 California Ave S.W., 5000 37th Ave S.W., 1800 S.W. Cloverdale St., 5900 21st Ave S.W., 7000 14th Ave S.W., 8400 7th Ave S.W., 2600 S.W. Webster St.