A trailer was stolen from a West Seattle storage facility early last week, and chances are the thief was befuddled by its contents. The victim told police that he works with explosives (no further detail available, unfortunately) and although there were no explosive materials inside the trailer, all of his tools of the trade were. He told police, “The stolen tools would be useless to anyone who was not familiar with his line of work.” Surveillance tapes revealed a white Ford pickup with an extended cab entering the facility sans trailer, then a few minutes later exiting with the trailer. Turns out employees at the storage facility were familiar with the thief and his white pickup truck in question. They had noticed a recent upsurge in storage unit break-ins since he started renting there, and also found it odd that he made so many trips to his own unit – atypical of normal renter activity. Police gathered the suspect’s information and license plate number and are probably knocking on his door right about … now.

A house burglar stole a fishbowl from a house on s.w. Avalon Way. Unfortunately for the homeowner the fish that once inhabited the bowl were long gone, replaced by an estimated $200 in loose change. The victim said he had left his bedroom window unlocked and slightly cracked open, giving opportunity to the thief to reach in and grab the bowl from atop his dresser. Officers were unable to pull good fingerprints from the window pane and there are no suspects in the case.

As a woman pulled up to her home on 59th Ave s.w., she noticed two Asian male suspects in their 20s running northbound, carrying something in their hands. They jumped into a newer light tan Volvo and sped away. She entered her house and realized she had just been burglarized and that the suspects entered her house through rear sliding glass doors. Her new IMac and a backpack were missing. Neighbors had also seen the suspects running down the street, but thought nothing of it. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle or suspects and the investigation is ongoing.

There were two armed robberies on California Ave s.w. last week. Papa John’s Pizza was robbed on Tuesday night, Oct. 5, and the Bartell Drugs pharmacy in Jefferson Square was robbed Saturday morning, Oct. 9. Nobody was hurt in the robberies and no suspects have been caught at this time (they are not believed to be related crimes).

Burglaries/break-ins/car prowls by block: 1900 42nd Ave SW, 3800 SW Lander, 59th Ave SW, 3200 30th Ave SW, 3800 21st Ave SW, 4500 36th Ave SW, 4700/5200 California Ave SW, 5400 Delridge Way SW, 6500 34th Ave SW, 7300 Glenridge Way SW, 7100 31st Ave SW, 7500 21st Ave SW, 8200 39th Ave SW, 9100 45th Ave SW, 9200 11th Ave SW, 3500 SW 97th St

The success of this column is largely based on feedback, tips and suggestions from you, the reader, so please contact Ty Swenson anytime at policeblotter@robinsonnews.com.