It’s certainly not the first time we’ve posted about thieves poaching Amazon Fresh deliveries from people’s porches here in Wallingford (and, we receive more reports than we publish), but this is the first break in the case we’ve heard.
Joshua writes:
I live on Meridian Ave between 38th and 39th. Today, upon returning home from lunch, I noticed someone leaving my drive way with an
AmazonFresh bag (there was no AmazonFresh truck parked in front of my house). The person appeared to be female and was wearing a red coat and a white hat. I quickly realized the bag had been taken from in front of my doorway. It was empty, so I didn’t think too much of it, and just shouted after her saying that she could keep the bag since it was empty. However, she had also gone through the empty Amazon Fresh frozen tote in front of my door, and I was concerned that this individual might be stealing things from outside other homes in the neighborhood. I decided to follow her and see what else she might try to do.She entered the passenger side of a Nissan Maxima at corner of 37th and Burke across from the Wallingford Bible Fellowship. I have included two photos of the vehicle. You can see the passenger is wearing a red coat and a white hat. I opted not to confront her.
While walking home, I found the empty AmazonFresh bag she had taken.
I called the police and they are sending out an officer to take a report, but I thought your readers might want to know.
Oh yes, I’m sure they do! Nice work, Joshua! We’ve included the photos below, including a blow-up of the woman’s face as she leans back in her car and throws you the “what’s your problem, all I’m doing is stealing your groceries” stink-eye.
Oh, how I wish there weren’t an Obama sticker in her window.
(Wallyhood would like to note that as of this writing, the person pictured here is not an official suspect nor have they been convicted in any crime. The report here is the uncorroborated statement of a Wallingford citizen.)
Correction (1/27/13 6:45 pm): Joshua writes:
I’d like to clarify that the person laying down in the driver’s seat is not the person who was on my property. The individual in the passenger seat (who you can’t really see), is the one who took the AmazonFresh bag. It is entirely possible that the driver had/has no idea what the passenger did.
If you follow the link I entered for my website you can look up the driver of the car (search by vehicle on left using the plate number) – I’m sure the police have already done it. A quick search on Facebook shows someone looking much like the driver. I’m not sure it’s the same person, but probably is.
Alas, tried three browsers but the slideshow just shows a collapsed black box. Any chance of linking to static pictures? Nice work, BTW!
@Would Like: I’ve changed the post to display the static photos instead of the slideshow.
Works great now, thanks!
“Oh, how I wish there weren’t an Obama sticker in her window.Oh, how I wish there weren’t an Obama sticker in her window.”
would be much cooler if it was a Romney one I am sure.
@neighbor: why?
Maybe she just stuck that Obama sticker on so her car would blend in. I haven’t seen a Romney sticker here in Wallingford, ever!
Great work Joshua! I’m so glad you got a pic of her car (or at least the car she was in) and the plates. Also, I am glad you opted not to confront her on your own. Thank you for being so proactive. BTW, Officer Street said he was going to look into the ‘Lego Theft’ we experienced in December, but I haven’t heard anything back yet.
Bmacke, thanks for attaching the link to the Muni Court of Seattle! I checked out the FB page of a person who is associated w/that license plate and we have one friend in common, a former co-worker at the King County Sheriff’s Office. I’ll ask him about her…
I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be better just to let the cops chase this one down rather than possibly tip someone off that they might be under investigation.
They probably have a whole squad of guys working on it right now.
I looked up my license plate there and it came back with the wrong make and color vehicle and no additional info (no name, etc.). So not sure how reliable that is.
Hi JohnC, I just tried a few of our car plates (including my FIRST car, which I no longer own, from the early 80’s) and the website had the make and color correct. Maybe with yours, it was a weird data entry error? Also, Michael H., my friend still works for the police and knows better than to jeopardize any investigation.
My understanding is that the website will only report the info that was current as of any violation. But there is room for error even when tickets are issued. I have personally found it pretty accurate. I just find it laughable when alleged criminals have totally public Facebook profiles.
The Obama sticker shouldn’t be a big surprise, criminals almost always vote democratic if given the chance; they like folks that go easy on them and make excuses for them.
The editors should be more careful about libel. Your disclaimer at the bottom of the photos means nothing as a defense — and Joshua does not say he SAW the woman do anything wrong. She has a wonderful case against you and Joshua both, and an even better one against wallyhood.org. You had better study the libel laws before publishing such unsubstantiated accusations again.
In fact, your disclaimer “The report here is the uncorroborated statement of a Wallingford citizen,” tends to prove that you acted with “reckless disregard” for the truth.
You know, maybe my reading comprehension skills are not that strong, but I’ve read Joshua’s account several times over and I do not understand what evidence exists for any wrong-doing committed by the woman in the photo. She stole an empty bag?
I have to agree with Mark. Not only is this sketchy from a legal perspective but also from a moral one. The “story” above includes the quote “…All I’m doing is stealing your groceries!” attributed to the woman. (Maybe an attempt at humor by the blogger… but it’s not very funny.) And several commenters have referred to her as a criminal or an alleged criminal. I suppose it’s different when people post videos of an individual clearly engaged in a criminal act. I’m not sure that it’s totally legal but at least it’s clear proof. In contrast, these current photos look like an intrusive snapshot of a private moment in a private car. I probably would have given the photographer more than a stink-eye.
Holy crap.. wallyhood is turnign into a negative take the law into your own hands place.. here a woman apparently picked up a paper bag and left and her face is reproduced here and on the Wallyhood front facebook page as a criminal… and in another article the new restaurant is lauded as a copyright infringer as though it was deliberately done.
get a head on your shoulders.. posters and publishers.
What gives posters the right to outright claim and accuse others of wrong doing so publicly? is this libel? Slander? careless editting? Reputation damaging?
I’m really Glad Joshua posted this! And love Wallyhood for keeping me informed about what’s going on in the real world/neighborhood outside my door. This doesn’t seem like taking the law into ones own hands…. Although it might be taking our right to be informed into our own hands. Taking a pictures of someone and calling the police is the way to go rather than confrontation…. who knows, she might have had a gun like the person Wallyhood informed us about down near the post office not long ago. I love Wallyhood and the sense of all of us helping each other. Thankyou Wallyhood for letting me know what’s going on and helping protect all of us. I would rather err on the side of being safe and keeping others safe. I’m not going to be quiet about wrongdoing because there might be some stupid law out there since one can find a law for everything…..that’s what law is….something that can be used in whatever way anyone wants to….I will never be afraid to speak up because I’m afraid of getting sued. Would much rather help others stay safe.
@CL / @miaomiao: If someone slipped their hand into your purse / backpocket without your knowledge, took out your wallet, rifled through it and discarded it, would you say that there was no real crime because your wallet happened to be empty when the person did so?
I completely agree with Penny and Wallyhood. Thank you again Joshua for letting us know. Let’s put down our litigious pitchforks and let the police do their job, as Michael H. suggested. I am sure they will sort out any legal matters. I don’t think there is anything illegal about running someone’s plates on a public government site and looking up someone’s public profile on FB. If there was, I wouldn’t do it. I also thought if someone was on your private property and took something, even if it had little monetary value, it was not legal. I am glad Joshua and Wallyhood were proactive.
LOOK Wallyhood, that did not happen.
Per the author the photo’ed person apparently took an empty paper bag and went through others.. maybe, though not seen doing so.
Check out what constitutes libel.
While the person should nto have taken an empty paper bag.. from anothers home property.. I am talking about your righ tto show the photo and run the plates. In a recent video of someone removing a box from a porch the author covered the face of the perpetrator. i am against crime, bu tI am against a public blog site being careless in identifying with criminal blame and others deciding to jump on band wagon to criminalize and hunt down another.
@miaomiao, what didn’t happen? You sound like you believe she took the empty bag. That is analogous to the empty wallet in my scenario.
I don’t think people should go to labor camps for minor crimes, but public shaming seems like a fair and effective response.
@miaomiao, couldn’t we all write down a bunch of plates of the cars that are parked on our streets and run them on the Seattle Muni site? Although, hopefully, we have better things to do, I still don’t see how utilizing a public government site is illegal.
Also, I posted pics our security camera took of a guy stealing a large package off our front porch. Two local news stations picked up the story and ran the video and the showed the still. I believe that was legal. Maybe the difference is the cameras caught him in the act?
I definitely am not hunting down this person. I am more worried about her. Glad you are against crime.
Sorry, Wallyhood. That’s poor logic, and your analogy is not helpful in this situation. I think when miaomiao writes “That didn’t happen,” he/she means that taking an empty paper bag from outside someone’s house is NOT the same as reaching a hand into a very personal part of someone’s clothing to take a wallet that is likely filled with cash, credit cards, identification, etc. Don’t you think she clearly knew it was empty the moment her hand touched it and lifted it up? Why did she continue to carry an empty paper bag down the driveway? Even Joshua said “It was empty, so I didn’t think too much of it, and just shouted after her saying that she could keep the bag since it was empty.” I’m not insisting that her intentions were 100% innocent (she did steal a paper bag, after all!), but based on the story provided I don’t think it’s clear to imply that she has done anything criminal.
Agreed with Kris’ call to follow Michael H’s suggestion — let the police do their job, please. In my opinion, this means not posting photos of potentially-innocent people with captions such as “Argh — I stole your groceries!!!”
Go ahead, Wallyhood — get defensive and snide in response. As the moderator of the blog, you’re free to do whatever you want with this conversation, like be condescending towards people who disagree with you or even shut those individuals out of the conversation. Such an approach seems in line with the belief that public shaming of a person with little clear evidence against them is a “fair and effective response.”
P.S. Clarification for Wallyhood: Since you seem to like “logical” arguments, let me point out something from the last sentence of your most recent comment.
You say, “I don’t think people should go to labor camps for minor crimes, but public shaming seems like a fair and effective response.” Do you mean that public shaming on your blog is a fair and effective response ONCE THEY’VE BEEN CONVICTED of a crime, minor or otherwise, or do you mean it’s fair and effective to immediately start shaming a person on your blog in the event that someone points a finger in someone’s direction, with or without much solid evidence.
@CL, “snide”? “condescending”? Please re-read every word I’ve written here and show me one that could be considered either. “Defensive”? Physician, heal thyself.
for apparently stealing a paperbag.. a persons photo and car info ar epublished here an don Wallyhood facebook page labeling her as a thief!
Watch your step everybody.. anyone can photograph you picking up litter, sweeping up leaves, picking up a wind-blown over dumpster, going through a free pile at curbside, closing a swinging gate.. and spread the photo with exaggerated claims and then repost the story and photo in facebook.
Great investigating reporting…. pictures say it all.. everyone should be clicking and posting… thanks
@Patricia, I can’t tell if you are serious or being sarcastic. ???
Dear ‘neighbor’ I used to think it was about an Obama or Romney sticker. Life was simple, cut & dry. As it appeared on the surface, so it appeared to me. I had no reason to question, everything worked fine for me. Unfortunately, as is often the case, until personally affected, it’s hard to believe or know. My advice to all; Please put aside an evening & study the history of American government. Not what you’ve been taught in school, but truth as it has been revealed through declassified documents & testimony. Then again, the headlines of late may be exactly as you’d hoped. Cooperation of many was needed for position America & citizens now finds itself. How did the German citizens allow the holocaust to happen, a question often pondered. 8o years ago this month, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. Not that long ago, when you think about it.
I think it’s important to keep in mind that nobody is guilty until convicted in a court of law. Until then we’re all presumed innocent, despite the court of public opinion. Therefore it should be imperative that this person be referred to as an alleged or suspected criminal.
If we’re into public shaming of criminal acts then lets begin photographing and posting the faces of those running their dogs off leash in Wallingford Park. That’s also a criminal act committed in broad daylight. Pretty easy to photograph in the act
I just noticed this addition under the pictures:
“Correction (1/27/13 6:45 pm): Joshua writes:
I’d like to clarify that the person laying down in the driver’s seat is not the person who was on my property. The individual in the passenger seat (who you can’t really see), is the one who took the AmazonFresh bag. It is entirely possible that the driver had/has no idea what the passenger did.”
My journalism professors would have had a field day with this. The blog needs to take a close look at the dangers of unsubstantiated accusations and name-calling before it again embarrasses itself with vigilantism or exposes itself to financial consequences.
The name associated with the license plate in the photo (regardless of her complicity or lack of it in the Amazon Fresh bag theft) has over 30 case numbers listed on the Seattle Muni Court website and owes the court money. The website is available to the public and provides PUBLIC court information. I’m guessing one of the reasons why this information is available is because the city is encouraging “COMMUNITY INVOLVED JUSTICE” which is proudly displayed on their site. They also include the following disclaimer, which I think also applies to this blog post.
Disclaimer:
The Seattle Municipal Court does not warrant that the data or information is accurate or complete; makes no representations regarding the identity of any persons whose names appear in data or information; and does not assume liability resulting from the release or use of the data or information.
Until police obtain at least a thumbprint each time a citation is issued, we can’t be 100% certain of the identity of the person who is receiving the citation. The police have access to so much more information than the average Joe. Also, they have the law on their side to investigate and make arrests. I think the court info is just interesting to read.
I’ve personally helped victims of identity theft. Some of these victims received notification from KC Superior Court that they owed thousands of dollars in court fees. I proved my clients were sent those notifications in error. Later, the court would try to find the ‘correct’ person who owed the fees. Sometimes, the name, date of birth and criminal history did not match, yet the court still sent out a collection letter. You could say the courts made an unsubstantiated accusation and it affected peoples lives. It took a lot of work to sort these matters out and I felt really bad for the innocent folks.
My point is, even courts make mistakes. This is a blog. The contributor and the owner were being proactive by giving us a heads up on this situation. That’s all. I agree, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I hope the readers of Wallyhood can be discerning and take the photos and post for what it is.
With the Gestapos & Whichhunters working together, I’m sure a solution will soon be found. It’s so wonderful to see a community come together to help one another like this. Then the ‘COMMUNITY INVOLVED’ justice, as well. Just terrific, good job, great to hear. Thanks for all your enlightenment Wallyhood!
Per the author the photo’ed person apparently took an empty paper bag and went through others.. maybe, though not seen doing so.
Amazon doesn’t use paper bags. They use durable, heavy well marked reusable bags. Emptied bags often still have items in them like ice packs and thermal guards, so I suspect it was likely she thought she was making off with something rather than nothing, but, of course, who knows?
Also the “tote” described is not a paper bag but is actually a substantial plastic box with a double lid and styrofoam inner box. It requires some measure of fiddly disassembly to look inside. It’s not like she glanced in couple of empty bags. It’s hard to imagine what legitimate purpose she’d have for going through the box.
Wallyhood,
In the end it’s purely a matter of opinion, but I do stand by my feeling that your responses have been overly defensive and condescending in tone. You wrote a blog post with the stated intentions of publicly shaming someone (who now appears to be the wrong person), and several commenters pointed out that your post may not be wise/legal/moral/fair, etc. Your responses towards those critiques has been dismissive and defensive, in my opinion. Is it hard to accept criticism, even when it may be valid? Yeah, of course it is. And, it’s totally human to defend oneself, as I’m doing myself right now.
In the end, I hold the opinion that your retorts to readers’ concerns were defensive and condescending. “Snide” may be a strong word for me to sling around, but I feel that it goes hand-in-hand with condescension. Again, just an opinion. It’s not a crime to be defensive or condescending, by the way, but I feel that as the moderator of a blog that ostensibly serves as a grass-roots news outlet for the neighborhood, you should allow people to have their say without putting them down. For what it’s worth, I generally enjoy reading this blog and agree with many of the political views in the more editorial posts. I just don’t like when people are treated poorly on the internet.
Anyway, I think you owe an apology to the woman in the photo in the post, especially given the caption you wrote and Joshua’s clarification that the photographed woman is merely a person sitting next to the woman he saw in his driveway.
(P.S. I am not that woman, nor do I know her.)
I’d just like to point out to anyone unfamiliar with AMAZON FRESH that their “totes” – that’s what they call them – are not simple paper bags like the ones you pay 5 cents for at QFC or Safeway.
AMAZON FRESH totes are the most upscale “shopping bag” I have seen, large enough to hold two standard paper shopping bags. They are also the property of AMAZON FRESH; customers are required to return them to AMAZON FRESH.
I’m surprised that Joshua didn’t mention this.
If you read the original article you will see that there is no mention of the bag being made of paper – the author just refers to it as both a bag and a tote. One of the commentators assumed that by bag, the author meant paper bag and then many more commentators jumped on that band wagon.
Thanks for posting this news – I think if I had an empty tote and was leaving one of your properties and you yelled after me to keep the bag, I might feel like I was beig accused of something. In my innocence I would not just keep walking away- I think I would feel like I owed you a reasonable explanation as to why I needed to be on your driveway in the first place.
And if I just panicked for no reason, I might offer that explanation once you got to my car. Just sayin’
I appreciate the heads up and visuals.
libel my foot, these folks were up to no good.
There’s a website to help neighborhood residents communicate quickly and respond to whatever is happening. It’s free, but right now there are only a handful of Wallingfordians signed up. homeelephant.com
typing about stuff in mo rethan one or any palce does nto stop it
weve typed away about vagrants in front of QFC they are still there
same with the creeps over I-5