Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis addressed the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council on May 21, providing an update on recent crime trends.

Davis said his officers have arrested several active burglars in the past month, but they have also seen an uptick in West Seattle robberies over that time, with mostly younger crooks primarily targeting people with visible electronics such as iPhones.

A common refrain, Davis plead with the community to diligently 911 when they see suspicious behavior in their neighborhoods or are the victim of a crime, no matter how small.

Subaru auto thefts are also on the rise, he said, due to the fact that criminals can easily steal them with a shaved key. For the thieves, Davis said the advantage is two-fold: Subarus are easy to steal and generally have wagon capacity that some use for their next nefarious step: burglarizing homes and filling the car up with stolen loot.

“With warm summer months (and a predictable rise in crime) … it’s an ongoing battle, but we are here to win,” Davis said.

The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council's next meeting is on June 18th, 2013. They will also hold a safety walk at Lincoln Park on May 28th, beginning at 7:00 pm and meeting by the North parking lot. All are welcome at both events.