You may have noticed that the Wallyhood Forums have been temporarily disabled (we’re really, really close to re-opening them, just cleaning up the layout on the new system). In the meantime, folks have used the Comments section of the placeholder page as an impromptu Forum, which tells me that there’s enough of a need for this that I better get on releasing the new system soon.
In the meantime, though, I thought this set of posts was worth a broader audience:
First, Stephanie wrote:
Hi neighbors-
In the last month, 3 out of us 4 roommates have gotten flat tires. Ironically, the same rear tire and usually a week a part from the previous flat. We have found this to be very suspicious and just too much of a coincidence to believe it’s unintentional. After the 3rd car was found with a flat, we took handling the situation more seriously in filing police reports. This flat tire was also confirmed to have been intentional by the size of the screw and the nature of it’s placement. We have spoken with our immediate neighbors but also just want to warn the community to check your tires before driving and to keep a lookout. Safety first! If you have seen or heard of anything, please let me know!
To which Jon replied:
Stephanie….where do you live? I live a couple blocks from John Stanford school and have had screws in my tires twice in the last year. Did not think that someone had put them their until I read your post…..
Caroline added:
I just had a flat tire from a nail or screw two weeks ago. I live on Sunnyside between 45th & 46th.
And Frankie confirmed:
The tire thing is quite real. Our neighbor had all his tires punctured. It’s a local nutcase, IMO. This is his or her hobby.
All very strange.
(Photo by Michael_Lehet)
I live near Lincoln High, and I heard what sounded like a screw in my tire yesterday. Haven’t had a chance to fully investigate yet, and airs not coming out yet. That sucks that someone might be responsible for all this.
Tuesday, Oct. 16th, we parked east Julia’s in the afternoon. We found a screw in one of the rear tires on our way home.
Last Sat night, Oct 27th a car window was smashed out in Good Shepherd North Parking lot.
things were taken from glove box, and various other things.
Too bad they opened up that parking lot to 50th street so any idiot can wander in easily.
My right passenger tire has had at least 4 screws in it over a 12 month period. The last time it happened, the screw was in the sidewall, so could not be patched. Makes me wonder now.
We had a flat last week. It was a screw. We live at 50th and 4th ave ne.
Screws can come from construction sites, of which there are plenty around lower Wallingford. If you run over one you usually won’t notice until later – usually in the morning. However, it is suspicious that screws punctured the same tire at one house….
I just heard that this was happening from my Mom who lives in Wallingford, I visit Wallingford often and on Sun. Oct 28th found my tire was flat after being in Wallingford, I found a bolt in it, thought it was weird but maybe construction some where. Yesterday found two of my tires with screws and nails in them. One of my tires completely flat and the other a slow leak. I have been parking around 46th between Sunnyside and Meridian.
Kelly, Please report all 3 incidents to the North Precinct of SPD if you haven’t already. There must be a map emerging of where these really nasty expensive inconvenient vandalisms are happening. I’m trying to envision: someone lingers by a vehicle, has a nail or screw in one hand and a driver or hammer in the other . . . should be easy enough to spot even in the dark.
Will do!
I had no idea this was going on until my Mom, who lives in Wallingford and reads Wallyhood reported these incidents to me. Thank You Wallyhood and residents!
I called the SPD non-emergency line on Tuesday, Nov. 13, to find out if we can safely park near Julia’s again. So far the police department does not have records of these problems . I will follow up with a call to Officer Lauren Street at 684-4739 who I’ve been told works with Walligford problems.
It may be that we think it is an isolated incident when a screw gets into a tire and don’t want to involve the police. I hope others will call so we can get an accurate picture of where and when these incidents are happening if they still are.
Please call 206 625-5011, press #2 and then #8 to get an operator. I spoke with Operator #114.
On Friday night (into Saturday morning) the stems on both of my front tires were cut with a tool of some sort. This occurred at the corner of 50th and Whitman.
I’m at 40th and Whitman and woke up last Friday morning to my right rear tire flat because of a screw in it.
We had a slow leak in our rear passenger side tire. We discovered it 2 weeks ago. Leak was due to a puncture from a screw. We live near Tutta Bella. This is kind of crazy! I know we have some construction in our area, but this many seems a little too coincidental to all be strictly by chance…doesn’t it?
Vandals seem to be particularly angry with Wallingford, and one small area of Wallingford, to be exact. Wonder what’s up? Last winter, there were some guys living in a panel truck on Meridian along the hedge of Meridian Park (so just south of 50th) and they were jumping out and harassing bicyclists in the dark (I called this in twice from my car, driving home from Wallingford at night). Same area. Different issue. But be careful along that very dark stretch of road, as the days gets darker and visibility gets worse with the weather.
Hmmmmmmm. We’ve just had to replace a tire because of a screw stuck right in at a very odd, almost hidden angle. We’re at NE45th and Thackeray Place NE. Didn’t make the connection until I read all of these posts…
Wolverines!
I noticed the right rear tire on my vehicle to be quite low yesterday. As I was inflating it at the Shell on 45th, what do I discover deep in the tread? A screw. I live in the area around Eastern and 45th.
Anyone have any ideas on how to prevent this happening to one’s tires?
Following up to my earlier comment, #17: I called SPD today at the number described in comment #10. The operator that took my call explained that they take both 911 and non-emergency calls. After hearing the description of my tire damage, she suggested that it would be better to file a police report online, freeing her up to take 911 calls. Here is the link: http://www.seattle.gov/police/report/default.htm. Click on “File a Report” and select the “Property Destruction” option.
Ken, i see Officer Lauren street will be at the meeting coming up about Community Safety, Monday, November 26 at Eltana Bagels (3920 Stone Way), from 9:00am – 10:30am, i can not be there. Please find out if there have been other reports about tires being “screwed”, where in our neighborhood, and if the police have any leads.