Two quick-thinking customers possibly prevented a tragedy at a Westwood Village store on Saturday, after a 15-year-old transient and a friend lit flammable materials and stuck them inside a display in the sporting goods area. The materials ignited, and a customer is seen on a videotape trying to grab the flaming material to get it away from other displays. Another customer finds a fire extinguisher, and the two managed to put out the fire before it spreads. The video also showed the suspects in the act of arson, and they were caught in short order. The 15-year-old was booked into the Youth Service Center for investigation of arson. His friend was released.

A 6-year-old special-needs child left a local schoolyard during recess, and staff was unable to find her. At the same time, witnesses on Delridge Way were calling 911 after seeing a young girl running down the middle of the street, away from a man in a white pickup truck. The girl couldn't speak to officers, but they did establish her identity through an ID bracelet. They were also able to determine that the man in the pickup truck had been trying to help the girl when she ran from him. School administrators were reminded that they needed to call 911 anytime a child was missing, rather than try to handle the situation on their own.

After pulling over a car for excessive noise and an exhaust pipe that was about to fall off, an officer noted that all five occupants of the vehicle wore colors-and had tattoos-associated with a local gang. No one in the car had a driver's license, and they denied that there were any weapons or contraband in the car. When the driver was place under arrest for driving without ID, he and the passengers were frisked for officer safety. Inside the vehicle were brass knuckles (illegal), two marijuana pipes, cocaine, and a shotgun. While being read his rights, the driver threatened one of the officers. He was booked into King County Jail for unlawful use of weapons. The passengers were released.

Citizens found a pistol lying in the middle of the 2400 block of SW Genesee on Tuesday. Officers ran the serial number and discovered that the gun had been reported stolen in Georgia. It was confiscated.

Early on New Year's Day, a man called 911 to have his "disruptive girlfriend" removed from his residence. Later that day, the woman had officers respond to her hospital room, where she was being treated for a broken hip. She claims her boyfriend shoved her out the front door, causing her to land on a step, where she received her injury. She claims that both she and her boyfriend were intoxicated, and that she doesn't remember being taken to the hospital. The boyfriend says that she fell on the landing, but not as a result of any violence. Officers provided her with domestic violence information and advised her to get a protection order.

Someone called a local woman, told her she had won a $500 shopping spree, and said they needed only $4.95 and her bank account information in order to provide her with the prize. The victim provided the info, and since then, someone has withdrawn hundred of dollars from her bank account.

Burglaries by block:1400 Alki SW, 6500 California SW, 7900 Occidental, 1000 S. Cloverdale, 4000 SW Walker, 4000 Beach Drive SW, 3000 SW Barton, 800 7th S., 2200 SW Orchard, 4100 39th SW, 800 S. Sullivan, 2400 55th SW, 3000 SW Bradford, 5900 Fauntleroy SW, 2400 SW Brandon

Twelve carprowls and five domestic violence incidents were reported in greater West Seattle last week.