A local business owner was surely delighted that the video cameras in the parking area captured images of a gas thief in action. The delight probably turned to dismay, however, when a review of the tapes showed that the images focused only on the thief's feet.

It was a dark and stormy night in the 7500 block of Delridge Way, when a pedestrian stepped into the road from between two parked cars. A young driver hit the brakes but his car slightly bumped the man, who did not fall to the ground. The driver stopped, and the pedestrian began yelling and demanded to see the driver's ID. (Interestingly, the pedestrian refused to reciprocate and didn't share any contact information.) He claimed to have a gun and said he was prepared to shoot the driver unless he handed over his cash. The driver handed over $30, and the pedestrian and friend walked off, reminding the driver that he "had his info" and that he'd be in touch. Luckily, the address on the driver's license wasn't current.

Friday evening, at 14th and S. Concord, three men in their 20s demanded a man's cash. When he refused, they jumped him, broke his nose, and opened a 2-inch-wide cut on his chin that went clear through to the inside of his mouth. The man last his wallet, cash, and apartment keys, and was taken to Harborview for treatment. The suspects are all about 6 feet 2 inches tall and wore black coats. They remain at large.

On 47th SW, a citizen became suspicious of activity at a neighboring house. It turned out that someone had poured gasoline on the floor inside. The Fire Department arrived, applied retardant, and secured the residence. A little later, the citizen saw someone walk out of the detached garage and called out to them to verify their identity. The person responded, saying he was the owner. But the witness was suspicious and placed a call to the owner, who said he was out of town and hadn't been to the house.

On Monday, around noon, three thin male teens - one Pacific Islander with long black hair pulled into a ponytail, one Caucasian, and one Hispanic - kicked in the door of a residence on 49th SW and stole a television. The three also stole a jewelry box, a camcorder, and two cameras, cash, and a laptop computer. Blocks away, a suspicious citizen called police after noticing three young people who didn't live in the neighborhood transferring a television from one car to another. The suspects remain at large and were seen in a silver station wagon.

Two landlords were startled to hear odd noises coming from a basement apartment that was being used for storage. Investigating, they found a 46-year-old Eastern Washington man in the space. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of criminal trespass in the first degree.

A man called from the South Park area to report that his wife had just jumped from the car and run away. She had recently been diagnosed as bi-polar and had been threatening suicide in recent days. Nearby officers found the woman and had her transported to Harborview for evaluation.

A thin white male in his 40s robbed a North Admiral business at gunpoint around 1:30 on Wednesday. He wore a yellow rain jacket with a hood, which was tied tightly around his head.

The holidays will be a little less sweet for a local chocolatier. Unknown persons stole two 300-pound stainless steel tanks and eight 55-gallon steel drums used to manufacture the creamy cocoa-laden treat. $6,000 loss.

When selling items of value to individuals, be sure to deal in cash. A WS citizen sold an antique violin to a man who paid with a $1,300 personal check. The buyer called and cancelled the check before the seller could cash it.

Burglaries by block: 2700 56th SW, 9400 17th SW, 3100 SW 97th, 6500 49th SW, 7400 5th S, 8400 5th SW, 1500 Alki SW, 4400 California Ave. SW, 9300 46th SW, 9300 47th SW, 5000 25th SW, 3600 California Ave. SW, 4400 47th SW, 4800 47th SW, 7900 31st SW, 8400 24th SW, 8800 2nd Ave. S, 3600 48th SW, 2400 55th SW, 7300 39th SW

Thirty car prowls and 13 domestic violence incidents were reported in greater West Seattle last week.