We run crime stories all the time, lamenting our broken car windows, stolen GPS’s and our lost innocence. This time, we get to report good news…for the good guys, anyway. The Seattle P-I reports that they have arrested two of four suspects in the armed robbery cases we reported occuring at Green Lake and in the Tangletown area several weeks ago:
One of two persons arrested Tuesday night in connection with a string of robberies around Seattle is a felon who had been released from King County Jail in April after being convicted in a third-degree theft case. […]
Police also arrested a 24-year-old woman in connection with three of the recent robberies.
Police are still looking for two more suspects — believed to be armed and dangerous – in what may be a string of nearly a dozen robberies.
But police couldn’t say if the persons arrested were connected to all 11 robberies — one in Magnolia, one in Capitol Hill and the rest in North Seattle. Suspects were armed in some of those cases.
Spree started Sept. 1
Officers say the series of 11 robberies started Sept. 1 and involved two to four men. The woman arrested, who is being held on $75,000 bail, is suspected of being the getaway driver and using a stolen credit card.
The crime spree started about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 1 when police say three men, including the one arrested Tuesday, attacked a man on Lake City Way Northeast near Northeast 107th Street. About a half hour later, 7-Eleven surveillance footage on Sand Point Way Northeast caught the three men and their suspected getaway driver using the victim’s credit card. […]
Police say the pair arrested Tuesday were also involved in a robbery about 3:30 a.m. Sept. 5 near Northeast 45th Street and 22nd Northeast. A man in his 20s was punched in the face by three other men and the victim’s credit card was later used at the Jack in the Box at Northeast 50th Street and University Way Northeast. […]
Police say the pair also are connected to a Sept. 8 robbery in which a man was punched in the face and beaten, and had his credit card stolen. The robbers fled in a dark-colored sedan and tried to use his credit card at a Shoreline 76 Station and a Jack in the Box. The card was declined. […]
About 11:30 p.m. Sept. 10, police said three men with similar descriptions robbed several people near North 65th Street and East Green Lake Way North.
The first victim that night was robbed at Green Lake Park, then four more people were robbed as they were walking along the park’s path. Neither a police dog nor the King County Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter could find the suspects. At least one of the robbers had a pistol.
On a note of prevention, the P-I also reports that patrols may be increased in response to the incidents:
Patrols increased at Green Lake
At recent community meetings about unrelated robberies in the University District, both Seattle and University of Washington police told community members it’s important for them to be aware of their surroundings.
Officers suggested walking with a friend if possible and cautioned inattentiveness because of headphones or communication devices could draw attention from criminals.
After neighbors became concerned about the violent robberies near Green Lake, North Precinct Capt. Mike Washburn deployed two cars, four bike officers and a sergeant to the area. Patrols remained over the weekend.
Washburn said even the two incidents were the largest string of robberies he’d seen around the park since he started as North Precinct captain in 2005.
“It’s so well used 24/7,” he said, “we rarely have incidents there.”
We’re thankful we weren’t at the meeting. If we had been there, heard about the increase in crime and then been told by the police that the solution was to “be aware of your surroundings”, we’re pretty sure another crime would have been committed.
@wallyhood – thanks for the article. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve noticed lately neighborhoods are getting more rugged to say the least. I live in the Issaquah Highlands and I’ve noticed there being way more litter and even some graphite – extremely rare in the Issaquah Highlands.
I go to church in Beacon Hill and I’ve also noticed tons more graphite on people’s homes, cars, and fences. I wonder if this is a product of the economy or urban growth.
If crime has risen in Wallingford, any guesses as to why?
Graphite, like… hobo markings? /puzzle
Graffiti, maybe?
I think increased crime is natural anywhere in a slower economy. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life. Wallingford overall seems to really care for their own and most people are good people. Glad they caught a couple of the bad apples – thanks for keeping us updated!
On Sept. 10th at around 11:20 my husband and I were shutting off the lights and noticed about 4-5 young men in 2 different cars parked outside our house. We live by Lincoln high and always have a lot of activity on the street. But these guys caught our attention due to what has been going on lately – they were rifling around in the trunk of their car and one guy actually put on gloves and they were all wearing hoodies. We turned our lights back on and watched them until they left. I’m pretty sure it was them. But can you call the police if someone just looks suspicious? We doubted the police would even come.
Yes, you can/should call 911 to report suspicious activity.
Here are some basic guidelines from the police:
http://www.seattle.gov/police/contact/reporting/suspicious_activity.htm
I think we should bring back hobo markings, but customized for Wallingford: “This house has ripe plums”, “Friendly, but don’t get them talking about the monorail”, etc.