Kelly wrote to us about spotting a car prowler out and about on Wednesday morning:
I walked out of my house this (Wednesday) morning to find a prowler looking in the windows of my neighbors car (the car was in a driveway, not visible from the street). He walked off immediately toward his car parked in the Chase Bank parking lot at the corner if Meridian Ave N & N 45th St. I tried to get his license plate but he was going too fast. I called and reported it to SPD.
I didn’t see his face, but he looked to be about 5′-8″ to 5′-10″ and thin…maybe 175 lbs. He was wearing a gray hoody and jeans, and was driving a recent model Volvo station wagon that was either dark blue or black.
A reminder to all to keep a look out and don’t leave valuables in your car.
Anyone find a nice pair of brand new snowshoes in the ‘hood? Meredith posted the following in the Forums:
UPS delivered a package to (my home on) N 44th at 1:30pm yesterday, April 9. When I got home at 9:30pm it was not there. After checking all around the building I filed a police report. Delivery was confirmed by UPS.
(I live in) the multi unit building by the back/side of Julia’s, with the raised garden bed along the driveway. If anyone saw anything or happens to have a camera pointed towards the building please let me know!
It was a pair of very nice snowshoes. Luckily, the company is sending another pair! Still, I’d like to keep this from happening again to any of us.
Thanks neighbors!
Loren wrote about dealing with the annual “Plant Abuse” in the Forums:
I know this topic has come up before- every Spring and Summer we experience almost daily small scale destruction of plants on our parking strip or of plants within easy reach of the sidewalk. Over the past 3 weeks someone has pulled up 2 small fruit trees, a number of blueberry plants and torn off the growing tips of a host of other plants. Is this happening to anyone else? We are in the 41st and Midvale area, one block off of Stone Way.
Anyone lose a Red Gitane road bike? “Ungenda” found one in his front yard, according to this post in the Forums:
Left in front of my house a few days ago, stolen?
Contact with details to confirm ownership!
The ‘recent model Volvo station wagon that was either dark blue or black’ was likely stolen from NW 67th street a few days ago, license plate 575WPS. The story is on the Phinneywood blog.
http://www.phinneywood.com/2013/04/10/car-crime-news/
My neighbors van/RV was stolen from their driveway last Thursday or Friday while they were out of town. I think it’s a road trek 190..white. I highly doubt anyone will spot it here in the hood but it certainly is a reminder to be extra vigilante with your vehicles . This occurred near 43rd and 2nd ave NE. Police report filed about 5 days later…no one knew it was stolen!
We moved to Wallingford in August to get away from the crime on cap hill. Since then we’ve had our packages stolen from our front porch at least 4 times. On the first day we moved in, I saw a car prowler going from car to car opening car doors and stealing what was inside. Reported the car prowler to the police while it was happening (they did not catch him because they came to late) but not the package thefts. Should I be reporting everytime a package is stolen?
There’s crime here in east Wallingford anyway, has been during my tenure, though way back when it was mostly breaking and entering through back doors during the day (1980’s). Most people fortified their back doors (and locked up their extension ladders). Then car radios were disappearing and later car sound systems . . . now it seems to be vehicles and packages.
As for packages, the people on my block whose porch was being targeted now have their packages mailed and delivered to a nearby house where people are home during the day most days so there to receive deliveries. Add a layer of coordinated Block Watch and connecting with block watches in 4 directions also seems to help.
Hope some of this helps. The police suggest that all crimes (including package stealings) be reported to the North Precinct:
PRECINCT CONTACTS
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1 immediately.
North Precinct Burglary/Theft and Juvenile
(206) 684-5735
North Precinct Community Policing Team
(206) 684-0794
Call for chronic, on-going problems that have not been resolved by calling 9-1-1.
North Precinct Crime Prevention
Terrie Johnston – (206) 684-7711
[email protected]
When checks were stolen out of our mailbox years ago, the bank told us we were an easy target because we are close to the freeway for an easy getaway.
In addition to plants, other garden fixings have been getting stolen. We lost some solar stake lights a few weeks ago in our neighborhood near HIMS, and last year our gardeners had their lawn mower stolen by some guys driving by with a “fake” lawn care truck.
Well, shoot. I’m sprucing up my house for sale in a couple months and was planning on doing some plantings. I guess I’ll keep my fingers crossed the plant stealers stay away. Now, if the street drunks and the taggers would just take a permanent vacation… We get several deliveries from UPS and FedEx at our house, but thus far there haven’t been any stolen packages, despite most of the time the packages being left on the porch.
@Kelly
I just read this post and I wish had done it this morning. I was seated in a restaurant at 1:45pm near Woodlawn and 45th, and just happened to glance out the window to see this dude totally scoping the contents of my car. He had a greyish/brownish hoodie on, but I couldn’t see his face. He was really fast and by the time I stood up he was around the corner. He wasn’t technically doing anything illegal, as he didn’t actually come into contact with the car, so I figured I couldn’t pursue him. Any advice for me/us if we see him again? I guess call the police would be step #1.