A crime wave, targeting residents and businesses in Crown Hill has one neighborhood concerned enough to start a Block Watch Party.

Dean Frazier has been living on 16th Street Northwest for the last 20 years. It had been relatively crime free.

"We've had our share of people sleeping in the back alley, there was a suicide a few years ago," said Frazier.

In early November, around 9:30 a.m., a burglar tried to break into Frazier's home. He tried to kick in the back door, but was stopped by a high-grade dead bolt lock, secured into the frame by extra long screws.

The thief then tried to get in through the front door. Failing this, he went across the street to another home, where a neighbor spotted him.

"A neighbor caught him in the act and called the police," said Frazier.

Officers arrived and caught a 14-year-old boy who lived nearby.

The teenage thief ransacked a home down the street that same morning, stealing an iPod and a laptop computer.

In the home next to Frazier's, the teen stole antique jewelry worth $20,000. Police found some of that jewelry in his pocket when he was arrested.

Police told Frazier they suspected the youth had accomplices waiting in the alley with a car, where he deposited his stolen loot.

A week later, someone tried to break into Frazier's car, which was parked in front of his house. Thieves then turned their attention to cars belonging to renters down the street.

Frazier has kept track of the crimes in his area in recent weeks. He listed them as: four attempted home burglaries; three successful home burglaries; one attempted car burglary, two of which were successful; the mugging of an elderly woman in front of a bank and a coffee stand robbed at gun point recently.

The Radio Shack Store on 15th Avenue Northwest has been a target. In the last week, a man entered the store, grabbed a DVD Stereo and ran out. Also last week, someone rammed a vehicle through the front window, stealing home theatre systems and speakers.

"It sucks. I don't want anyone driving into the store and taking stuff," said owner David Dewey.

He has owned the Radio Shack since June and said crime was worse before he took over. Dewey increased security measures with computer monitors anchored with black security cables and smaller items attached to alarm devices.

"I've locked up stuff and taken all sorts of measures. Quite a bit of stuff is going on, it's no fun," said Dewey who has been in contact with Frazier about rampant crime in the neighborhood.

Despite the problems, Dewey said he likes his little store. His employees and his customers are "cool" he stated.

The burglaries, car prowls and other crimes have rallied Frazier's neighbors who have formed the Block Watch Party. Frazier and his wife Emily are the captains.

All the neighbors on Frazier's street joined Block Watch Party. "The community has to step up and be part of our own safety," said Frazier.

Neil Hansen, a crime prevention coordinator for the Seattle Police, said Block Watch programs can be effective.

"They get all the neighbors to report what happens and look out for each other. It makes a difference," he said.

Hansen isn't sure there is an upsurge in crime in Crown Hill. He says there are always crimes in any area of the city like burglaries, shoplifting and auto theft.

"When people hear about them happening, they assume things are way out of normal," Hansen said.

Businesses along the alley shared with the homeowners have agreed to install more lighting and the residents are working with the city to install no trespassing signs.

Graffiti has also plagued the street, primarily in the alleyway. "Every other week, someone goes out and tags," said Frazier, who paints it out.

One neighbor, who has found his tires slashed in the past, got tired of taggers painting on his house. He put up a threatening poster of a tough man pointing a gun. The poster can been seen from the rear driveway, just under graffiti painted on a basement door.

Another Ballard neighborhood met with the Seattle Police Department in late October after experiencing a rash of car prowls around 17th Avenue Northwest between 70th and 73rd Northwest.

Dean Wong may be contacted at 783.1244 or dino@robinsonnews.com