I prefer to roll the crime-related stories here in Wallingford up a bit, for fear of exaggerating their frequency and of inciting my mother, who reads this blog from across the country, into paroxysms of fear.
But it’s important that folks know what’s going on around them, the good and the bad, so here’s a sampling:
- At around 9 pm last week, someone stole a $300+ Bob stroller off our front porch. Readers of the Green Lake Moms listserv will recognize that this is not a isolated incident. If you have an expensive stroller, don’t leave it where someone can take it easily, or they will.
- Alan forwarded this mail from Alison: “I wanted to let you all know that our dark green 1998 Honda CRV was stolen sometime last night or this morning from the 4700 block of Thackeray. Please help us keep an eye out for it. It has Washington license plates ANU2952. There are white Villa Academy license plate holders on both front and back. There is a little bit on damage on the right rear fender. (FYI there are a couple of similar ones that park on 2nd Ave. Ours does not have a roof rack or a rear spoiler.)”
- Mary Jo from the Dandelion Salon on 45th St writes about a phone scam that is walking its way through Wallingford-based businesses:
“Someone will call and ask to speak to the manager or the owner of the business. They will tell you that they have not received payment on the utilities bill. They will tell the business that a payment needs to be made immediately because the power will be turned off in the next hour.They really create an urgency to get it resolved otherwise there will be no power and we would have to pay to have it turned back on.“They also will say that if you pay on line it takes 24 hours for the payment to be processed so it would be too late. They tell you can pay the bill immediately by going to a Walgreen’s, Safeway or Bartel by buying a Pay Pack Card. After the Pay Pack Card is purchased they give you a number to call back to give them the code off of the back of the card.“I would suggest anyone that receives a call like this, to get the name and phone number of the person they are speaking to then immediately call the number for the Seattle Utilities which can be found on their website.“I was told that the Police Department are aware of the scam and are investigating it. The Public Utilities will give the business owner a number to the Police Officer that is handling the case.”
- Connie writes: “The scam for the elderly has started again. I received a phone call from my “grandson” saying he was in a lot of trouble and needed my financial help. When I asked for a number to call him back he hung up. Don’t fall for this one, I have received three of these calls in the past year.”
It’s a cruel world out there. Be suspicious, but don’t let your suspicion get in the way of helping out those in need around you. For every fake story out there, there’s a real one, and that real one could be collateral damage of the distrust engendered by the grifters.
It’s a side point–but why does anyone need a $300 stroller? Special medical equipment?
Crime is terrible and nobody deserves to be victimized, but it is foolish to leave expensive (or treasured) items outside.
Thanks. Hope you feel smarter than me today.
I’m sorry that you took offense at my comment. I didn’t refer to any of your points though, and I replied to Fruitbat’s comment, so I’m not sure why you feel that way.
Also, upon consideration, I was really replying to the initial post, and not really Fruitbat’s comment either.
I’m the initial poster (Wallyhood). Pretty much every time there’s some crime post on Wallyhood, someone comments to the effect of “I’m not blaming the victim, but it was the victim’s fault”. Not saying it wasn’t dumb, but what goal does saying that serve to rub it in my face? If someone walks out in the street and gets hit by a car, do you walk over to them and say “Hey, nobody deserves to get hit, but you really should have looked both ways.”?
I’m sorry I thought you were listing examples of crime that you collected from various sources. But I certainly never implied that I was smarter than you. I don’t actually think you comparing what I said to a car accident is accurate, because it is (hopefully) an accident. I am allowed to think that if somebody complains that they left $300 dollar bills on their lawn and they are taken, the natural question is, why did you leave them there?
Crime is a part of society that we all must be aware of and do what we can to try and protect ourselves. Certain decisions and activities make us more susceptible to being victimized. Anyway, I am still sorry you took what I said so personally. And I am sorry the stroller was stollen.
I thought about it some more and maybe I was being insensitive. But at least I didn’t also point out that the Grandmother should have recognized her own grandson’s voice. 🙂
Thank you, Eyflyn!
I made the same assumption, Eyflyn. I thought they were crimes reported to the author and that he was conveying them to us via copying-pasting from emails.
That’s relatively useful advice, at least. (On my way home last week, on N 45th, one of a group of girls backed out into the crosswalk right in front of me … at least look forward?) I’m hoping there some point where we could find a balance between obvious second-guessing phrased with words like “foolish”, and being unable to say anything while the victim flag is up.
As for whether I’m to blame if something’s stolen of my porch – where do you draw the line? Can I leave something unsecured in my back yard? Can I leave something out front for a minute, during the day, or would it be foolish unless I’m right there to keep an eye on it? It can be expensive to have stuff stolen, but you also pay a price for that kind of vigilance, a price I’m not willing to pay if I don’t think I have to. So sometimes I take the risk of assuming that it’s a little better world than maybe it is.
Yes, essentially. It’s common sense. Look both ways before crossing the street and don’t leave expensive items where they can be taken if you want to keep them. In this day and age (and in this city and neighborhood) carelessness comes with consequences.
No, I strongly disagree with you’re point. If you turn your car on in the morning to heat it up and go back inside to pour coffee should you have to worry someone is going to steal your car? That’s BS. I left my longboard on my porch overnight and someone straight walked onto my property and took it. Should I have left it out? no, but Wallingford isn’t that big and if I see some neighborhood kid riding MY (easily identifiable) longboard, they’re gonna get it. It’s less about the stolen property and more about knowing someone snuck onto my porch. And if some parent is reading this who’s kid is the new owner of a snowcon “slow rollin” board, I’d really like it back, it was my main mode of transportation
I doubt your stuff was stolen by someone who wanted it. They steal anything that isn’t bolted down, on a more or less random basis. I’ve heard of a mop getting stolen. Then I guess they take it to someone who may give them a little money for it. Or not, and I imagine a lot of it just gets destroyed, because the thieves are too messed up to reliably gauge the item’s value as stolen goods.
You are living in a fantasyland if you think someone in Wallingford won’t steal your car that you left RUNNING and UNLOCKED. Off your property or anywhere else. It’s just an invitation. You live in a city. There is crime. If you do not take precautions (like not leaving a running, unlocked car in your driveway or an expensive longboard on your porch) you are likely to suffer consequences. If you really wanted to keep the longboard and it was that important to you, why in the world would you not bring it inside or at least secure it? Would you leave your wallet out front and expect it to still be there? An unlocked bike? Anything?!? We all like to think that we live in a neighborhood that ‘wouldn’t do something like that’ but it’s just not true. Crime does not discriminate and we must all be vigilant.
Thanks for making it so easy.
Nobody NEEDS a $300 stroller. Nobody NEEDS a $30,000 car. Nobody NEEDS a $2,000 computer. Nobody NEEDS a $600,000 home in Wallingford.
Try a Bob stroller and then try some of the lower priced alternatives. You’ll notice the differences pretty quickly. Are they worth the difference in price? Depends what you can afford, how often you use it, and how big an impact the differences make to you. For us, it was worth it.
And it saves your back. Even the cheap strollers aren’t so cheap. Who steals a stroller?! That’s just wrong.
I need all that stuff. Ha!
It comes down to usage and taste (and perhaps one’s height). If you are only going to use a stroller for the airport or within a mall and you happen to be shorter than 5’8″, and the child is big enough to sit up and not flip forward, then a $25 (brand new) umbrella stroller is a good option). But, if you are looking for a stroller for every day use to walk around the neighborhood, then a $300 stroller may make more sense. The Bob stroller is reliable, durable, kids like them, lasts through several children (& families), is easily pushed, is easily maneuvered, good on all sorts of paved and unpaved terrain, etc.. It is a good option for those for whom walking is one of their modes of transportation and want a stroller that will last for years. There are other strollers that are also good options – some are more expensive, some are less, and some of are more easily collapsed and “car trunk friendly” and some are not). Quality, easy-to-use strollers are also easy to pass along to another family, because they are still functional and thus desired. In the grand scheme of things, $300 for a reliable, easy-to-use stroller that will last several years is not that much.
Fruitbat, that is a good price for a decent stroller these days. We paid $650 for our Chariot and it was worth every penny. We used it nearly everyday.
I’ve lived in wallingford for over 5 years and my car got broken into once. It was was I left it open by mistake.
A well made and well designed stroller will save you many $$ in the long run. Pushing a stroller up curbs is easiest with larger wheels. Smaller, cheaper wheels can catch in uneven road surfaces and sidewalks and throw the stroller. A handle bar that is wide, sturdy and the right height will be good for your body, especially for your back . There is also the positioning and well being of the child to consider. Some cheaper strollers have the child’s legs resting on a metal bar and make the child slump in the seat.
Perhaps you can find a second hand stroller at KIDS 45th. Otherwise, invest in your well being and that of your child and pay in installments if you have to. It’s worth it.
The comment from fruit bat asking why any one needs a $300 stroller does have a tone to it that is a tad snarky and provocative .
It’s funny the side point generated the most comments!
It is disappointing we can’t leave things outside on our property w/out having to worry about it getting stolen. I was going to weatherproof my shoes in the backyard (under the deck), but felt uneasy leaving them outside, even though they were in our gated backyard.
About a month ago, someone opened our neighbor’s backyard carport gate near 50th and Eastern and stole his bike. It happened sometime between 3:40 – 4:15 pm.
Jordan, I am so sorry about your stroller. Thank you for the post. I think we should get to know our neighbors and look out for each other. Also, call the police when you see or feel something is amiss. Trust your gut.
I had no idea people spent $300 (or $650) on strollers. I was concerned that it might be a stroller for special needs.
It’s been a decade since my child was in a stroller, and we just had the umbrella kind. Used, $10. One feature of the umbrella stroller–it comes inside easily.
We’ve had old shoes and other useless, worthless items stolen off our porch before. We don’t leave anything there anymore. Sorry your stroller was stolen.
As far as the car being stolen, we had our 1997 Honda Civic stolen last Feb, and broken into (again) last week. The officer who took our report last year said (1) Get a Club. Cars with Club’s don’t get stolen. (2) many thefts/break-in’s are for Honda’s, as many thieves have a master key that fit most Honda’s, so never leave Anything in your car, or trunk. I don’t leave anything in mine anymore, yet they still broke in last week, as it was so easy with the master key.
At least they didn’t need to break the window.
I am still new here and worry a lot about what I have moved into. Everyone warned me that Seattle is one of the most run down and third-world cities in the United States, but I did not want to believe them. It appears to be true…I am shocked that a grandmother doesn’t already know her own grandson’s number too. How bizarre.
Growing up in Harlem, I lived in a place without such petty crime. You could leave your doors open and no one stole your belongings. It seems that in an ultra-liberal environment, rules just get ignored. Just because you were picked on at school, and had your lunch money taken regularly, it doesn’t mean you have to let this go on. You can break this cycle. We have therapists; they can help you.
I hope we can find a way to turn this place around.
On a more positive note, I accidentally left my car window rolled down for 24 hours parked a block off of 45th (a bit distracted, perhaps?) and nothing happened to it that I can tell. Nothing valuable inside to begin with, but all my miscellaneous trunk and glove-box items were still there, no damage. So thank you kind neighbors and would-be vandals that decided my car is really not worth your time.
Is it a crime to park at a strangers house, clean out your car and throw your gnarly non-recyclable trash into their recycle bin?
Was irritated he didn’t even put it in the garbage can. Geez.