It is cold out, so here is some helpful information when dealing with extremely low temps:
1. Do not leave water running in unoccupied buildings.
2. Please don’t use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes!
3. Know where the main water shut-off valve inside your home is located and how to shut it off. Contact Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 386-1800 for questions about shutting off water mains and the tools needed to do so.
4. If a water pipe breaks, immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop excessive flooding. If you cannot turn off the main shut-off valve, Seattle Public Utilities customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.
5. If an inlet or street drain appears to be blocked by snow or debris, try to safely clear a channel to provide a path for the runoff. If the drain cannot be cleared, or if the cause of the blockage or flooding is uncertain, call Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 386-1800.
6. Melting/run-off can cause landslides...Seattle property owners with structures affected by or endangered by a landslide may contact the Department of Planning and Development at (206) 684-7899, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a rapid evaluation of damage.
7. Power outages are a pain - call Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light at (206) 684-3000 to report power outages and/or downed power lines.
Thanks and let's all have a safe holiday!
Cheers - Lee
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Spray painting vandals paint side of car
Hi neighbors, looks like vandals are out and about in our neighborhood. The side of our car was spray painted black last night. If you see anyone acting suspicious, especially wielding an aerosol paint can, don't hesitate to confront them or call the police.
Have a great thanksgiving everyone!
Your neighbor @ 23rd and Bayview - Lee
Have a great thanksgiving everyone!
Your neighbor @ 23rd and Bayview - Lee
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Car Prowls on the rise - South Precinct Email Community Newsletter November 18, 2008
Yeah, yeah, I know - you’re tired of seeing this subject. Trust me, I’m tired of writing about it. The sad reality is that we’ve seen a marked increase in the number of car prowls throughout the Precinct in recent months compared to this time last year.
Why The Increase?
We have some theories:
• Car prowlers are hard to catch in the act. While they occur all times of the day and night in every neighborhood, most occur during hours of darkness in areas that do not have a lot of foot or vehicle traffic at the time of the crime.
• Car prowls take less time to commit than other crimes. It literally takes seconds for the prowler to see if there’s anything in the car that attracts their attention and a few more seconds to open the unlocked door or break the window to get in, get the stuff and get away.
• Car Prowls are treated as misdemeanors. As car prowl is theft from a car, the crime is prosecutedas a theft, regardless of the damage done to the car in the commission of the crime. Even if an offender is caught and prosecuted, the crime is almost always prosecuted as a misdemeanor offense. That differs from burglary, which is a felony offense.
• Car prowl is lucrative. Consider this:
Items most often taken in car prowls: Laptops, IPods, cash, small electronics, wallets, weapons, IDs, GPS systems.
Say I’m a bad guy. If I break in to a car and get caught, I’m charged with a misdemeanor. So, why would I break in to a home and risk getting caught and charged with a felony when my take from the car is about what I’d get from the house? Just because I’m a criminal doesn’t mean I’m stupid.
Who’s Doing It?
There is no one group of people committing car prowls. They are youth who are taking a break from burglarizing homes. They are addicts looking for an easy score they can turn into quick cash for their next fix. They are transients walking through the area. They are adults. They are young people. Most of all, they are opportunists.
What Can Be Done?
Car Prowl is a prolific problem. There are things we as owners and operators of vehicles can do to prevent these crimes.
• Don’t leave items of value in your vehicle. You’ve seen us write this before and we say it at every community meeting. It bears repeating because we’re still seeing this behavior; items of value in a vehicle create an opportunity for the offender to exploit.
• We see reports of people who park along the lake to go walking but leave their wallets in the car. If you’re going to take a walk or run along the lake, take your wallet with you rather than leaving it in the car.
• If you are going to leave something in your car, don’t wait until you park at your destination before you put stuff in the trunk or under the seat. You’ve just shown anyone who’s around that you’ve just put stuff in your trunk or under the seat.
• Don’t leave accessories visible in your car. You may have taken the Laptop or IPod in with you, but if you leave the USB cables for your laptop or earbuds for the IPod in the back seat, the offender may think those items are in the car and break in anyway.
• GPS systems are being taken at an alarming rate. Think about how the GPS is mounted in your car. If the mounting for the GPS is visible, the thief may think the GPS is in the glove box or under the seat and may break in to try to get it. Have a removable mounting for the GPS and put that out of sight as well.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Why The Increase?
We have some theories:
• Car prowlers are hard to catch in the act. While they occur all times of the day and night in every neighborhood, most occur during hours of darkness in areas that do not have a lot of foot or vehicle traffic at the time of the crime.
• Car prowls take less time to commit than other crimes. It literally takes seconds for the prowler to see if there’s anything in the car that attracts their attention and a few more seconds to open the unlocked door or break the window to get in, get the stuff and get away.
• Car Prowls are treated as misdemeanors. As car prowl is theft from a car, the crime is prosecutedas a theft, regardless of the damage done to the car in the commission of the crime. Even if an offender is caught and prosecuted, the crime is almost always prosecuted as a misdemeanor offense. That differs from burglary, which is a felony offense.
• Car prowl is lucrative. Consider this:
Items most often taken in car prowls: Laptops, IPods, cash, small electronics, wallets, weapons, IDs, GPS systems.
Say I’m a bad guy. If I break in to a car and get caught, I’m charged with a misdemeanor. So, why would I break in to a home and risk getting caught and charged with a felony when my take from the car is about what I’d get from the house? Just because I’m a criminal doesn’t mean I’m stupid.
Who’s Doing It?
There is no one group of people committing car prowls. They are youth who are taking a break from burglarizing homes. They are addicts looking for an easy score they can turn into quick cash for their next fix. They are transients walking through the area. They are adults. They are young people. Most of all, they are opportunists.
What Can Be Done?
Car Prowl is a prolific problem. There are things we as owners and operators of vehicles can do to prevent these crimes.
• Don’t leave items of value in your vehicle. You’ve seen us write this before and we say it at every community meeting. It bears repeating because we’re still seeing this behavior; items of value in a vehicle create an opportunity for the offender to exploit.
• We see reports of people who park along the lake to go walking but leave their wallets in the car. If you’re going to take a walk or run along the lake, take your wallet with you rather than leaving it in the car.
• If you are going to leave something in your car, don’t wait until you park at your destination before you put stuff in the trunk or under the seat. You’ve just shown anyone who’s around that you’ve just put stuff in your trunk or under the seat.
• Don’t leave accessories visible in your car. You may have taken the Laptop or IPod in with you, but if you leave the USB cables for your laptop or earbuds for the IPod in the back seat, the offender may think those items are in the car and break in anyway.
• GPS systems are being taken at an alarming rate. Think about how the GPS is mounted in your car. If the mounting for the GPS is visible, the thief may think the GPS is in the glove box or under the seat and may break in to try to get it. Have a removable mounting for the GPS and put that out of sight as well.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Monday, November 03, 2008
South Precinct Email Community Newsletter November 3, 2008
Quite often, we’ll receive calls and emails asking us about an incident that neighbors saw or heard about. “What was all the police activity about over by ……?” “Why was there a helicopter up shining a spotlight all over my neighborhood?” “What happened with that one guy who did that one thing?” (Yes, sometimes the queries are that “specific.”) We understand that you want to know what’s happening in your neighborhood. We now have a way for you to get the information that you are looking for in a timelier manner. The Seattle Police Department has launched the SPD Blotter.
The SPD Blotter went on line in September 2008. It provides a near real-time recap of significant crime events. You can review events from all over the city, or look specifically at events in the police precinct area in which you are interested. You are able to review recent events, such as significant events that happened last night or over the weekend, and there is an archive feature that allows you to review previous events detailed in the SPD Blotter.
There are a number of ways you can get the SPD Blotter:
• You can go to the SPD website and view the latest entries on our home page.
www.seattle.gov/police.
• You can access the Blotter directly by going to its specific web address,
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/.
• You can subscribe to the Blotter so that it automatically arrives to you via email. Go to http://feeds.feedburner.com/spdblotter to sign up for this feature.
Lighting and Storm Drains
You’re probably wondering what these have to do with crime prevention and public safety.
Lighting. When areas are not well illuminated, there is often a feeling that the area is not safe. Combine that with the number of car prowls that happened in darkened areas and it becomes more important to ensure that neighborhoods are well illuminated in the evening hours. If you have a streetlight that is out or not functioning properly on your block, report that to Seattle City Light Streetlight Repair at (206) 684-7056. Each utility pole has a number. When you report the malfunctioning light, give the pole number and the address nearest the pole (for example “It’s in front of 3212 22nd S”), or the nearest cross streets (“Near 22nd Ave S & S Hanford ST”). Better street lighting contributes to a feeling of safety and it works to reduce the incidents of theft and prowling because the potential criminal is more visible.
Storm Drains.
Clogged storm drains may not be a crime issue, but they are a public safety issue. Every year, we experience heavy rains in the November/December months and every year, leaves and debris clog storm drains. Streets and homes flood because there is nowhere for the massive amounts of water to go. There are things we can do to work to prevent street flooding (which impacts traffic) and water damage to homes like we’ve experienced in previous years:
1) Clean out storm drains. While you are out tending to the leaves that have fallen from your trees, take a few moments to tend to the leaves that may block storm drains.
2) If your block has storm drains that have grass and sod that have grown over them (as on my block,) contact Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 386-1800 to have clearing and maintenance performed. You can call this number for any street drainage issues, including flooding and drainage emergencies. Please don’t call 911 for flooding.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
The SPD Blotter went on line in September 2008. It provides a near real-time recap of significant crime events. You can review events from all over the city, or look specifically at events in the police precinct area in which you are interested. You are able to review recent events, such as significant events that happened last night or over the weekend, and there is an archive feature that allows you to review previous events detailed in the SPD Blotter.
There are a number of ways you can get the SPD Blotter:
• You can go to the SPD website and view the latest entries on our home page.
www.seattle.gov/police.
• You can access the Blotter directly by going to its specific web address,
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/.
• You can subscribe to the Blotter so that it automatically arrives to you via email. Go to http://feeds.feedburner.com/spdblotter to sign up for this feature.
Lighting and Storm Drains
You’re probably wondering what these have to do with crime prevention and public safety.
Lighting. When areas are not well illuminated, there is often a feeling that the area is not safe. Combine that with the number of car prowls that happened in darkened areas and it becomes more important to ensure that neighborhoods are well illuminated in the evening hours. If you have a streetlight that is out or not functioning properly on your block, report that to Seattle City Light Streetlight Repair at (206) 684-7056. Each utility pole has a number. When you report the malfunctioning light, give the pole number and the address nearest the pole (for example “It’s in front of 3212 22nd S”), or the nearest cross streets (“Near 22nd Ave S & S Hanford ST”). Better street lighting contributes to a feeling of safety and it works to reduce the incidents of theft and prowling because the potential criminal is more visible.
Storm Drains.
Clogged storm drains may not be a crime issue, but they are a public safety issue. Every year, we experience heavy rains in the November/December months and every year, leaves and debris clog storm drains. Streets and homes flood because there is nowhere for the massive amounts of water to go. There are things we can do to work to prevent street flooding (which impacts traffic) and water damage to homes like we’ve experienced in previous years:
1) Clean out storm drains. While you are out tending to the leaves that have fallen from your trees, take a few moments to tend to the leaves that may block storm drains.
2) If your block has storm drains that have grass and sod that have grown over them (as on my block,) contact Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 386-1800 to have clearing and maintenance performed. You can call this number for any street drainage issues, including flooding and drainage emergencies. Please don’t call 911 for flooding.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Oct. 14th Recent Crime Trends - South Precinct Community Newsletter
Car Prowls
We are seeing an upward trend in the number of car prowls in the South Precinct area. They seem to be up in almost every neighborhood – Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Rainier Beach, along Lake Washington, along the commercial corridors of the Precinct. Most common items taken include backpacks, cell phones, GPS navigation systems, credit cards, cash, and IPods.
For some time we’ve advised members of the community that Car Prowl is one of the most pervasive property crimes in our region. It is also one of the most preventable: don’t leave items of value in your car. The number of backpacks, laptops digital cameras and IPods that are being left in – and then stolen from – cars, let’s us know that we need to do more to reinforce this message.
Car prowl, like most crime, is a crime of opportunity. If you remove the opportunity, you remove the crime. Removing items of value from our vehicles reduces the opportunity. Part of the response to these crimes is we as car owners doing our part. When we as car owners stop leaving our property in our unattended cars, we have less incidents of car prowl.
We are not blaming the victim. At the same time, we are saying that we need not feed the problem by leaving valuables in our vehicles in plain sight to lure potential prowlers. Let’s not make it easy for these criminals. We should do our part to reduce the opportunity for these crimes to occur. We do that by removing items of value from our car.
Burglaries
We saw an increase in residential burglaries over the warm weather months. This is not unusual. We often see a spike in the number of burglaries via unlocked /open windows during the summer because we tend to leave windows open for ventilation and then leave the home. As the weather has cooled, the number of burglaries has decreased.
Recently, we’ve noted several incidents of burglars using ladders to gain entry to unlocked second story windows. The burglars are using ladders that have been left unsecured by neighbors. An example: Mr. Jenkins had a ladder lying in his driveway, but it wasn’t locked up. Burglars took the ladder and put it up against Mrs. Johnson’s house and got in a second floor bedroom window. After they got what they wanted, they went to Mr. Santos’ place and went in a second story window there.
What You Can do
• Close and lock all doors and windows (even second story windows) when you are away from home.
• Please secure all tools - including ladders - to ensure they cannot be used to gain entry into your (or someone else’s) home. Use a chain and padlock to secure the ladders (not just to themselves); secure them to a post/railing/banister, etc.
• Engrave your valuables with your driver’s license number so that it can be identified in the event of theft. Engraving property is also a deterrent; if thieves see the property is engraved, they are less likely to take it. For those items you cannot engrave, take a photo so you can positively identify them. This includes GPS systems, IPods, digital cameras, etc.; not just TVs, DVRs and laptops.
• Whether you engrave the item or take a picture of it, record the serial number of the item for positive identification. Make an inventory list of your valuable items; keep it someplace secure.
• Do not leave valuables in your unattended vehicles.
• Report the crimes! We often hear that car prowls are no big deal. However, theft from a car is still a theft. Police need to know about the thefts and need to be alerted when neighbors see suspicious activity. Without that reporting, police cannot respond.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
We are seeing an upward trend in the number of car prowls in the South Precinct area. They seem to be up in almost every neighborhood – Beacon Hill, Georgetown, Rainier Beach, along Lake Washington, along the commercial corridors of the Precinct. Most common items taken include backpacks, cell phones, GPS navigation systems, credit cards, cash, and IPods.
For some time we’ve advised members of the community that Car Prowl is one of the most pervasive property crimes in our region. It is also one of the most preventable: don’t leave items of value in your car. The number of backpacks, laptops digital cameras and IPods that are being left in – and then stolen from – cars, let’s us know that we need to do more to reinforce this message.
Car prowl, like most crime, is a crime of opportunity. If you remove the opportunity, you remove the crime. Removing items of value from our vehicles reduces the opportunity. Part of the response to these crimes is we as car owners doing our part. When we as car owners stop leaving our property in our unattended cars, we have less incidents of car prowl.
We are not blaming the victim. At the same time, we are saying that we need not feed the problem by leaving valuables in our vehicles in plain sight to lure potential prowlers. Let’s not make it easy for these criminals. We should do our part to reduce the opportunity for these crimes to occur. We do that by removing items of value from our car.
Burglaries
We saw an increase in residential burglaries over the warm weather months. This is not unusual. We often see a spike in the number of burglaries via unlocked /open windows during the summer because we tend to leave windows open for ventilation and then leave the home. As the weather has cooled, the number of burglaries has decreased.
Recently, we’ve noted several incidents of burglars using ladders to gain entry to unlocked second story windows. The burglars are using ladders that have been left unsecured by neighbors. An example: Mr. Jenkins had a ladder lying in his driveway, but it wasn’t locked up. Burglars took the ladder and put it up against Mrs. Johnson’s house and got in a second floor bedroom window. After they got what they wanted, they went to Mr. Santos’ place and went in a second story window there.
What You Can do
• Close and lock all doors and windows (even second story windows) when you are away from home.
• Please secure all tools - including ladders - to ensure they cannot be used to gain entry into your (or someone else’s) home. Use a chain and padlock to secure the ladders (not just to themselves); secure them to a post/railing/banister, etc.
• Engrave your valuables with your driver’s license number so that it can be identified in the event of theft. Engraving property is also a deterrent; if thieves see the property is engraved, they are less likely to take it. For those items you cannot engrave, take a photo so you can positively identify them. This includes GPS systems, IPods, digital cameras, etc.; not just TVs, DVRs and laptops.
• Whether you engrave the item or take a picture of it, record the serial number of the item for positive identification. Make an inventory list of your valuable items; keep it someplace secure.
• Do not leave valuables in your unattended vehicles.
• Report the crimes! We often hear that car prowls are no big deal. However, theft from a car is still a theft. Police need to know about the thefts and need to be alerted when neighbors see suspicious activity. Without that reporting, police cannot respond.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The South Precinct has experienced two home invasion robberies in as many days
Please be very aware at this time - if something does not seem right, call the police.
On Monday, September 1, 2008, at approximately 3pm two suspects entered a residence on the 3900 block of South Lucile Street and robbed the female occupant who was home with her children. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun. The suspects, described as Black males, took the victims’ purse, which contained car and house keys. The victims sustained no injuries in this event.
At approximately 10:40 am today (Tuesday, September 2, 2008) two suspects, described as one tall Black male and one Asian male, made forced entry of a residence in the 2300 block of 24th Avenue South. The suspects were armed with a handgun. The victim was sleeping when the suspects gained entry to the home. The suspects assaulted the victim, rifled through the house and stole jewelry, cash and other items, before fleeing the scene. The victim was later transported to the hospital for her injuries. The identity of one of the suspects is known and police are actively working to locate him.
At this time, it is unknown if the two home invasion robberies are connected.
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
On Monday, September 1, 2008, at approximately 3pm two suspects entered a residence on the 3900 block of South Lucile Street and robbed the female occupant who was home with her children. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun. The suspects, described as Black males, took the victims’ purse, which contained car and house keys. The victims sustained no injuries in this event.
At approximately 10:40 am today (Tuesday, September 2, 2008) two suspects, described as one tall Black male and one Asian male, made forced entry of a residence in the 2300 block of 24th Avenue South. The suspects were armed with a handgun. The victim was sleeping when the suspects gained entry to the home. The suspects assaulted the victim, rifled through the house and stole jewelry, cash and other items, before fleeing the scene. The victim was later transported to the hospital for her injuries. The identity of one of the suspects is known and police are actively working to locate him.
At this time, it is unknown if the two home invasion robberies are connected.
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
08-19-08 - forced entry at 2900 block of S. Holly St.
Dear Community Friends -
At about 1:30pm this afternoon, two suspects, a 22-year-old East African male and a 15-year-old Asian male, forced their way into a home in the 2900 block of S. Holly St. The house in question belongs to the mother of the 22-year-old suspect. The mother and other family members confronted the suspects and both suspects fled the house. After fleeing the house, one or both suspects fired several gunshots into the air.
Patrol Officers and K-9 responded to the area and set up containment. The 15-year-old suspect was captured first with the assistance of a K-9 unit. He was injured by the K-9 during the arrest, sustaining minor bites to his extremities. He was treated by Seattle Fire Department at the scene and then transported to Harborview Medical Center for further evaluation.
The 22-year-old suspect was arrested without incident within minutes of the other suspect. Both suspects were armed. As of this writing, neither weapon has been recovered. Apparently the suspects tossed both weapons in the area prior to being arrested.
Crime Scene Investigators and Robbery Detectives responded to process the crime scene. It is believed that both suspects committed two street robberies in the immediate area and were involved in another weapons incident this morning at about 4am.
If not for community calls to 911 and the quick response of patrol officers and K-9 units, the armed suspects would have continued their crime spree in the area.
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
At about 1:30pm this afternoon, two suspects, a 22-year-old East African male and a 15-year-old Asian male, forced their way into a home in the 2900 block of S. Holly St. The house in question belongs to the mother of the 22-year-old suspect. The mother and other family members confronted the suspects and both suspects fled the house. After fleeing the house, one or both suspects fired several gunshots into the air.
Patrol Officers and K-9 responded to the area and set up containment. The 15-year-old suspect was captured first with the assistance of a K-9 unit. He was injured by the K-9 during the arrest, sustaining minor bites to his extremities. He was treated by Seattle Fire Department at the scene and then transported to Harborview Medical Center for further evaluation.
The 22-year-old suspect was arrested without incident within minutes of the other suspect. Both suspects were armed. As of this writing, neither weapon has been recovered. Apparently the suspects tossed both weapons in the area prior to being arrested.
Crime Scene Investigators and Robbery Detectives responded to process the crime scene. It is believed that both suspects committed two street robberies in the immediate area and were involved in another weapons incident this morning at about 4am.
If not for community calls to 911 and the quick response of patrol officers and K-9 units, the armed suspects would have continued their crime spree in the area.
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Light Rail Testing
As reported in this morning’s Seattle Times, Sound Transit will begin testing link light-rail trains in Rainier Valley on Thursday August 14, adding a new to the traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. The trains will share streets with cars, buses, motorcycles, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Sound Transit Safety
The Light Rail tracks pass through 18 intersections and 10 pedestrian signals, plus three stations in the median. Trains will run as often as every six minutes in each direction, at a top speed of 35 mph. Although engineers have designed state-of-the-art signals and walkways, the sheer volume of activity makes this a hazardous five miles.
Left turns from MLK are allowed only on left-turn arrows, to reduce conflicts with trains going straight. Electronic signs show a train icon whenever trains are approaching. There are several "Z-crossings," where short fences channel pedestrians and force them to look in the direction of approaching trains. There are refuge islands in the median where people can stand, if they can only make it halfway.
The Sound Transit community outreach team is also available to speak to small or large groups. Please call Carol Doering at 206-398-5095 to schedule a time, day or evening. You may also email her at carol.doering@soundtransit.org. You can also call and/or email to get the safety brochures in the various languages.
Sound Transit Safety
The Light Rail tracks pass through 18 intersections and 10 pedestrian signals, plus three stations in the median. Trains will run as often as every six minutes in each direction, at a top speed of 35 mph. Although engineers have designed state-of-the-art signals and walkways, the sheer volume of activity makes this a hazardous five miles.
Left turns from MLK are allowed only on left-turn arrows, to reduce conflicts with trains going straight. Electronic signs show a train icon whenever trains are approaching. There are several "Z-crossings," where short fences channel pedestrians and force them to look in the direction of approaching trains. There are refuge islands in the median where people can stand, if they can only make it halfway.
The Sound Transit community outreach team is also available to speak to small or large groups. Please call Carol Doering at 206-398-5095 to schedule a time, day or evening. You may also email her at carol.doering@soundtransit.org. You can also call and/or email to get the safety brochures in the various languages.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
South Precinct Email Community Newsletter 8.6.08
Dear Community Friends,
When we send out our informational newsletters and alert bulletins, we want to keep you up to date regarding significant events that impact the residents of the South Precinct. We want to give you a complete picture, not just one that scares you, spurs you in to action or pats us on the back. To that end, we wanted to alert you regarding some significant events that occurred over the past 24 hours.
Significant Events
At approximately 10:30pm on Tuesday August 5th, Seattle Police officers responded to call of someone having been shot at Rainier Avenue S. and S. Graham St. Upon arriving to the scene, our officers found a 15-year old victim lying on the sidewalk on the 6300 Block of Rainier Ave S. He had a single gunshot wound to the lower torso. We located witnesses that were with the victim when he was shot.
Although it uncertain what exactly occurred, we believe the victim, who had a known history of gang and criminal involvement, was confronted by a group of individuals as he was walking home with the witnesses. Supposedly nothing was said and there were no warnings. A single shot was fired and struck the victim. The suspects then fled in an unknown direction. The witnesses were running when the shot was fired and, either did not see, or would not tell us what they saw. The 15-year-old victim died as a result of his injuries. The Seattle Police Gang Unit initially responded but turned the scene over to the Homicide Unit.
Later in the evening, just after midnight, a number of calls came in to 911 regarding shots fired in the area of Othello Park. Upon arriving, officers located a victim who had been shot through the upper thigh and a car that he was using for cover had numerous bullet holes in it. Officers learned that the victim and a friend had been at a local convenience store where they saw a group of males starting to assault a woman. The shooting victim apparently knew the assailants. When he and his friend came to the aid of the woman, the males voiced their anger at the intervention. Not long after this confrontation, this same group of males walked by the victim’s residence, stood across the street from his home and fired several shots, striking the victim and the vehicle. The suspects fled. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Gang Unit detectives processed the crime scene and recovered 45-calibre shell casings and spent rounds.
Night Out 2008
It may seem incongruent to talk about Night Out Against Crime in the face of the tragic incidents mentioned above. But while these tragic incidents were happening, neighbors from all over the city were coming together. There were over 1000 registered Night Out events throughout the city - the most we have seen in the 25-year history of the Night Out Against Crime. The South Precinct area had 115 registered Night Out events – also the most ever had recorded. Police officers and Firefighters appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality as they tried to stop in at as many events as they could. Whether the group was an long-time established block watch, or just got together for the first time, the important thing was seeing neighbors connecting with neighbors and commit to each other to reduce crime and violence in their neighborhoods.
In looking at these and other incidents that happened on the same day as Night Out, neighbors coming together to support each other is more important than ever.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
When we send out our informational newsletters and alert bulletins, we want to keep you up to date regarding significant events that impact the residents of the South Precinct. We want to give you a complete picture, not just one that scares you, spurs you in to action or pats us on the back. To that end, we wanted to alert you regarding some significant events that occurred over the past 24 hours.
Significant Events
At approximately 10:30pm on Tuesday August 5th, Seattle Police officers responded to call of someone having been shot at Rainier Avenue S. and S. Graham St. Upon arriving to the scene, our officers found a 15-year old victim lying on the sidewalk on the 6300 Block of Rainier Ave S. He had a single gunshot wound to the lower torso. We located witnesses that were with the victim when he was shot.
Although it uncertain what exactly occurred, we believe the victim, who had a known history of gang and criminal involvement, was confronted by a group of individuals as he was walking home with the witnesses. Supposedly nothing was said and there were no warnings. A single shot was fired and struck the victim. The suspects then fled in an unknown direction. The witnesses were running when the shot was fired and, either did not see, or would not tell us what they saw. The 15-year-old victim died as a result of his injuries. The Seattle Police Gang Unit initially responded but turned the scene over to the Homicide Unit.
Later in the evening, just after midnight, a number of calls came in to 911 regarding shots fired in the area of Othello Park. Upon arriving, officers located a victim who had been shot through the upper thigh and a car that he was using for cover had numerous bullet holes in it. Officers learned that the victim and a friend had been at a local convenience store where they saw a group of males starting to assault a woman. The shooting victim apparently knew the assailants. When he and his friend came to the aid of the woman, the males voiced their anger at the intervention. Not long after this confrontation, this same group of males walked by the victim’s residence, stood across the street from his home and fired several shots, striking the victim and the vehicle. The suspects fled. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Gang Unit detectives processed the crime scene and recovered 45-calibre shell casings and spent rounds.
Night Out 2008
It may seem incongruent to talk about Night Out Against Crime in the face of the tragic incidents mentioned above. But while these tragic incidents were happening, neighbors from all over the city were coming together. There were over 1000 registered Night Out events throughout the city - the most we have seen in the 25-year history of the Night Out Against Crime. The South Precinct area had 115 registered Night Out events – also the most ever had recorded. Police officers and Firefighters appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality as they tried to stop in at as many events as they could. Whether the group was an long-time established block watch, or just got together for the first time, the important thing was seeing neighbors connecting with neighbors and commit to each other to reduce crime and violence in their neighborhoods.
In looking at these and other incidents that happened on the same day as Night Out, neighbors coming together to support each other is more important than ever.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Another Night Out Success - 2008
Thanks everyone, for making NOAC '08 another big hit. It was great to see everyone. Until next time, Lee
Neighbors all over gather for National Night Out events
Neighbors all over gather for National Night Out events
Thousands of residents across the Puget Sound area participated in Tuesday's National Night Out Against Crime, which is marking its 25th year of raising awareness about crime-prevention. Block-watch coordinators organized potlucks, games and parades on their streets, while some communities organized public events at malls and community centers.
Seattle Times Article
Thousands of residents across the Puget Sound area participated in Tuesday's National Night Out Against Crime, which is marking its 25th year of raising awareness about crime-prevention. Block-watch coordinators organized potlucks, games and parades on their streets, while some communities organized public events at malls and community centers.
Seattle Times Article
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Assault on 60-year-old at 9800 block of 61st Ave S.
Dear Community Friends,
We wanted to make you aware of a recent incident. On July 9, 2008 at approximately 7:40pm, a 60-year-old resident from the 9800 block of 61st Ave S was assaulted in front of his home. The victim had been watering plants in the traffic circle on his street. Three females in a vehicle and the victim became engaged in a verbal argument. The argument escalated and shortly thereafter, another vehicle stopped and a passenger (a male in his 20s) got out and struck the victim, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The victim was taken to Harborview with life threatening injuries. The suspect left the scene and is being sought by police.
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
We wanted to make you aware of a recent incident. On July 9, 2008 at approximately 7:40pm, a 60-year-old resident from the 9800 block of 61st Ave S was assaulted in front of his home. The victim had been watering plants in the traffic circle on his street. Three females in a vehicle and the victim became engaged in a verbal argument. The argument escalated and shortly thereafter, another vehicle stopped and a passenger (a male in his 20s) got out and struck the victim, causing the victim to fall to the ground. The victim was taken to Harborview with life threatening injuries. The suspect left the scene and is being sought by police.
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Mark Solomon
SPD Crime Prevention, South Precinct
206.386.9766
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
South Precinct Email Community Newsletter - July 7th
Burglaries
I had been gone about four hours and when I returned home one day following an appointment. As I entered and looked at how my dining room table was out of place and the cabinet drawers were open, I thought, “I didn’t leave it like this, did I?” As I looked in my office area and found things off the shelves and on the floor, I thought, “How did this happen?” It wasn’t until I went in the bedroom and found that the jewelry boxes had been upended on the bed that I realized I had been burglarized. Forced entry through a locked rear door inside a locked fenced in yard. They stole jewelry, a laptop, my digital cable box, digital camera, cash, DVDs… and they took food out of my freezer.
It Can Happen To Anybody: Don’t Blame Yourself
I understand that queasy feeling that surfaces when you realize that your space has been violated, that someone came into your home, rifled through your dresser drawers and took your stuff. I know first hand the second-guessing, the questioning and the self-blaming. “If only I had done _____.” “Why didn’t I ______?” You have to admit, it is ironic that the crime prevention guy, the one that hammers you with home security tips, gets his place broken in to. It does go to show that; 1) it could happen to anyone, 2) If you have already taken precautions to improve home security, there may be some things you haven’t considered (the BB gun used to break the double-pane glass of the rear door was a new one for me; one that I’ve seen a few times since my burglary), and 3) further improvements could be made.
And since I know you’re wondering, I also waited 3 ½ hours for an officer to respond. The crime was not in progress, there were no witnesses, and there was no suspect information. With other things going on in the Precinct, my non-emergency call could wait.
What You Should Do: Lessons Learned And Reinforced From Me To You
1) Always lock doors and windows when away from the home.
2) Have a home security assessment to see what you can do to improve your home security. This is a free service. Learn from my professional and (recent) personal experience.
3) Take inventory of your valuable items. Make a list of the items, model number, serial number and approximate value. For items that can be engraved, put your driver’s license or state ID number.
4) For those items that cannot be engraved, take a picture of them and have a written description of the item. Do the same with jewelry and include appraisals of the items.
5) Communicate with neighbors. There had been recent burglaries in the neighborhood, so alerting neighbors when an incident occurs makes everyone aware so neighbors can be more watchful.
Night Out Against Crime 2008
Speaking of communicating with neighbors, we encourage you to participate in “Night Out Against Crime 2008” on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Night Out is a national crime prevention event designed to heighten neighborhood awareness, increase neighborhood anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to connect neighbors and share information with each other while learning more about crime prevention.
To register your block for Night Out Against Crime 2008 on line, please use the following link: http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm.
The 2008 event theme is partnership with the Emergency Management Office to promote the SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) program: More information about SNAP can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/emergency/programs/snap/.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
I had been gone about four hours and when I returned home one day following an appointment. As I entered and looked at how my dining room table was out of place and the cabinet drawers were open, I thought, “I didn’t leave it like this, did I?” As I looked in my office area and found things off the shelves and on the floor, I thought, “How did this happen?” It wasn’t until I went in the bedroom and found that the jewelry boxes had been upended on the bed that I realized I had been burglarized. Forced entry through a locked rear door inside a locked fenced in yard. They stole jewelry, a laptop, my digital cable box, digital camera, cash, DVDs… and they took food out of my freezer.
It Can Happen To Anybody: Don’t Blame Yourself
I understand that queasy feeling that surfaces when you realize that your space has been violated, that someone came into your home, rifled through your dresser drawers and took your stuff. I know first hand the second-guessing, the questioning and the self-blaming. “If only I had done _____.” “Why didn’t I ______?” You have to admit, it is ironic that the crime prevention guy, the one that hammers you with home security tips, gets his place broken in to. It does go to show that; 1) it could happen to anyone, 2) If you have already taken precautions to improve home security, there may be some things you haven’t considered (the BB gun used to break the double-pane glass of the rear door was a new one for me; one that I’ve seen a few times since my burglary), and 3) further improvements could be made.
And since I know you’re wondering, I also waited 3 ½ hours for an officer to respond. The crime was not in progress, there were no witnesses, and there was no suspect information. With other things going on in the Precinct, my non-emergency call could wait.
What You Should Do: Lessons Learned And Reinforced From Me To You
1) Always lock doors and windows when away from the home.
2) Have a home security assessment to see what you can do to improve your home security. This is a free service. Learn from my professional and (recent) personal experience.
3) Take inventory of your valuable items. Make a list of the items, model number, serial number and approximate value. For items that can be engraved, put your driver’s license or state ID number.
4) For those items that cannot be engraved, take a picture of them and have a written description of the item. Do the same with jewelry and include appraisals of the items.
5) Communicate with neighbors. There had been recent burglaries in the neighborhood, so alerting neighbors when an incident occurs makes everyone aware so neighbors can be more watchful.
Night Out Against Crime 2008
Speaking of communicating with neighbors, we encourage you to participate in “Night Out Against Crime 2008” on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Night Out is a national crime prevention event designed to heighten neighborhood awareness, increase neighborhood anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to connect neighbors and share information with each other while learning more about crime prevention.
To register your block for Night Out Against Crime 2008 on line, please use the following link: http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm.
The 2008 event theme is partnership with the Emergency Management Office to promote the SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) program: More information about SNAP can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/emergency/programs/snap/.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
COME JOIN US AT NIGHT OUT 2008!
SEATTLE NIGHT OUT 2008 is TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2008
It is that time of year again - time really flies!
This is always a fun event, so please mark your calendars!
LOCATION:
2360 20th ave. south corner of Bayview
-------
POTLUCK
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There will be a BBQ available for use, but if someone would like to roll over an additional - that would be fine too!
Chairs/folding tables are always welcome as well as saw horses or "road" barriers.
Let me know if you want invites sent so that you can hand them out to your neighbors.
Hope to see you there! More details to come - Lee Shaw
2360 20th ave. s.
206-726-5961
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Plant stealer, garden variety crook, nabs plants and more...
Hello all - it disappoints me to have to say this but we have a garden thief living amongst us. That or someone is casing our neighborhood for fresh plants to seize when no one else is looking, and driving them off to some other locale.
1. Stacy and Shelly, home owners on Bayview, in-between 20th ave. s. and 19th ave. s. had some plants stolen directly from their yard.
2. And not too long ago another neighbor nearby complained of having had both of their front and back drip hose timers ripped off!
3. Neighbors at the corner of 18th & Bayview have had plants stolen from their front yard as well - one just a few weeks ago. A few years back they had a really nice shrub stolen from out front of their house.
4. Neighbors have reported seeing some suspicious looking/behaving people on Bayview around 10-11:30 AM in the mornings (walking up and down the street) and odd night-time activity on Bayview between 14th and 17th involving a camper - but this is likely unrelated.
I don't want to have to say lock up your wheel barrows and lawn tools, but maybe a little extra vigilence is necessary? I hope that is not the case as I think our neighborhood is a terrific place to live.
Other things to keep in mind when the weather decides to warm up:
- careful when you leave windows and doors open unsupervised, may invite unwanted visitors
- careful not to leave valuables out and unattended for long periods of time
- be on the lookout for folks who linger and don't appear to be part of our neighborhood community
- report suspicious activity to your neighbor, or to the police
- keep folks near you and who know you informed of travel plans so they can look out for you while you are away
Little Reminder, early August is the night out against crime block party. More details to come...
Until next time,
Lee
2360 20th ave. s.
1. Stacy and Shelly, home owners on Bayview, in-between 20th ave. s. and 19th ave. s. had some plants stolen directly from their yard.
2. And not too long ago another neighbor nearby complained of having had both of their front and back drip hose timers ripped off!
3. Neighbors at the corner of 18th & Bayview have had plants stolen from their front yard as well - one just a few weeks ago. A few years back they had a really nice shrub stolen from out front of their house.
4. Neighbors have reported seeing some suspicious looking/behaving people on Bayview around 10-11:30 AM in the mornings (walking up and down the street) and odd night-time activity on Bayview between 14th and 17th involving a camper - but this is likely unrelated.
I don't want to have to say lock up your wheel barrows and lawn tools, but maybe a little extra vigilence is necessary? I hope that is not the case as I think our neighborhood is a terrific place to live.
Other things to keep in mind when the weather decides to warm up:
- careful when you leave windows and doors open unsupervised, may invite unwanted visitors
- careful not to leave valuables out and unattended for long periods of time
- be on the lookout for folks who linger and don't appear to be part of our neighborhood community
- report suspicious activity to your neighbor, or to the police
- keep folks near you and who know you informed of travel plans so they can look out for you while you are away
Little Reminder, early August is the night out against crime block party. More details to come...
Until next time,
Lee
2360 20th ave. s.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Groper Suspect Nabbed
Dear Community Friends,
On Thursday, May 22, Seattle Police arrested a suspect in the groping sexual assault incident of May 17, 2008. This incident was the subject of a previous Community Notification. Darin L. Bolar, AKA Darran Bolar was arrested Thursday afternoon and has been charged with Assault for the May 17th groping incident, and for Robbery for taking a cell phone belonging to one of the witnesses of the assault. While Bolar was arrested for the May 17th incident, he is currently being investigated for some of the other groping cases.
Captain Liggins, South Precinct Commander, and the men and women of the South Precinct, want to extend their thanks to you all. We want to express our gratitude to members of our community for their diligence as we’ve worked to finds this individual. Alert witnesses who came forward enabled police to identify and arrest the individual.
However, the arrest of this one individual does not mean that people should become complacent and relax their awareness. As we’ve mentioned previously, one of the complications in these cases is the reluctance of many victims to speak with detectives. If anyone reading this newsletter has been a victim of one of these incidents, or knows someone who has been a victim, we urge you to speak with the detectives in our Sexual Assault Unit. Please call at 206.684.5575.
Again, we thank you for being vigilant and assisting us in apprehending suspect Bolar. We ask for your continued assistance and vigilance. We urge you to continue to be alert and aware!
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
On Thursday, May 22, Seattle Police arrested a suspect in the groping sexual assault incident of May 17, 2008. This incident was the subject of a previous Community Notification. Darin L. Bolar, AKA Darran Bolar was arrested Thursday afternoon and has been charged with Assault for the May 17th groping incident, and for Robbery for taking a cell phone belonging to one of the witnesses of the assault. While Bolar was arrested for the May 17th incident, he is currently being investigated for some of the other groping cases.
Captain Liggins, South Precinct Commander, and the men and women of the South Precinct, want to extend their thanks to you all. We want to express our gratitude to members of our community for their diligence as we’ve worked to finds this individual. Alert witnesses who came forward enabled police to identify and arrest the individual.
However, the arrest of this one individual does not mean that people should become complacent and relax their awareness. As we’ve mentioned previously, one of the complications in these cases is the reluctance of many victims to speak with detectives. If anyone reading this newsletter has been a victim of one of these incidents, or knows someone who has been a victim, we urge you to speak with the detectives in our Sexual Assault Unit. Please call at 206.684.5575.
Again, we thank you for being vigilant and assisting us in apprehending suspect Bolar. We ask for your continued assistance and vigilance. We urge you to continue to be alert and aware!
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
There has been another assault by “the Groper.”
There has been another assault by “the Groper.” The incident happened Saturday, May 17th at approximately 10am on the 7500 Block of Renton Ave S. An Asian female was walking northbound on Renton Ave S with a young child, approximately two-years of age. The suspect approached the adult woman from behind. The suspect was seen groping the woman’s buttocks. The suspect backed away when the woman screamed. The scream drew the attention of several witnesses in the area. The female victim was seen running northbound with the child along Renton Ave S.
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40 years of age, 5-10, flesh colored shaving bumps on left side of face. Suspect vehicle is a 1994 green Jeep Cherokee.
The adult female victim has not yet come forward to speak with police about the incident. We very much need to speak with this woman. She is described as an adult Asian female, possibly in her 40’s-50’s, wearing a white top and black pants. She was walking with a 2-year-old child on Renton Ave S at about 10am on Saturday May 17th, 2008. If you know this woman, please encourage her to come forward. It is extremely important that detectives speak with her. Please contact our Sexual Assault unit at 206.684.5575.
Personal Safety Tips
• Stay alert. Scan your surroundings; make brief eye contact with those around you. Send the message that you’re aware of what’s going on around you.
• When you’re out, pay attention to the present moment.
• Trust your instincts! Don’t ignore your gut feeling or early danger signals. If a situation appears unsafe, look for avenues of escape.
• Know what you’re capable of doing. Are you capable of screaming, running or fighting? Have a plan! What would you do if you were attacked?
• If the situation or the area is a safety concern, keep someone informed of your moves. Consider carrying a cellular phone. Also consider carrying a whistle.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks. If you feel a location or a situation is unsafe – get out. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, give yourself permission to do something about it. Cross the street or go into a store.
• Draw attention to yourself if you’re in a threatening situation. Yell, shout, and scream. By drawing attention to yourself, you draw attention to the attacker.
Using Public Transportation
• Know the bus or transportation schedule to minimize waiting times at the stop.
• Avoid sleeping, cleaning out your pockets, balancing checkbooks etc. If you read, look up periodically.
• If possible, sit near the front of the bus, near or within easy view of the driver.
Handbags, Other Bags, Purses & Wallets
• Before you leave home, decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet out of habit. For example, if you are going to the grocery store for a few items, you can carry cash, a single check, or credit/debit card, I.D. and keys in a pocket.
• Carry keys in your pocket rather than in a purse or handbag.
• Don’t leave your valuables (bags, purses, briefcases,) unattended. We often will leave them in dressing rooms, shopping carts and cars…. Always maintain positive control over your items.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 40 years of age, 5-10, flesh colored shaving bumps on left side of face. Suspect vehicle is a 1994 green Jeep Cherokee.
The adult female victim has not yet come forward to speak with police about the incident. We very much need to speak with this woman. She is described as an adult Asian female, possibly in her 40’s-50’s, wearing a white top and black pants. She was walking with a 2-year-old child on Renton Ave S at about 10am on Saturday May 17th, 2008. If you know this woman, please encourage her to come forward. It is extremely important that detectives speak with her. Please contact our Sexual Assault unit at 206.684.5575.
Personal Safety Tips
• Stay alert. Scan your surroundings; make brief eye contact with those around you. Send the message that you’re aware of what’s going on around you.
• When you’re out, pay attention to the present moment.
• Trust your instincts! Don’t ignore your gut feeling or early danger signals. If a situation appears unsafe, look for avenues of escape.
• Know what you’re capable of doing. Are you capable of screaming, running or fighting? Have a plan! What would you do if you were attacked?
• If the situation or the area is a safety concern, keep someone informed of your moves. Consider carrying a cellular phone. Also consider carrying a whistle.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks. If you feel a location or a situation is unsafe – get out. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, give yourself permission to do something about it. Cross the street or go into a store.
• Draw attention to yourself if you’re in a threatening situation. Yell, shout, and scream. By drawing attention to yourself, you draw attention to the attacker.
Using Public Transportation
• Know the bus or transportation schedule to minimize waiting times at the stop.
• Avoid sleeping, cleaning out your pockets, balancing checkbooks etc. If you read, look up periodically.
• If possible, sit near the front of the bus, near or within easy view of the driver.
Handbags, Other Bags, Purses & Wallets
• Before you leave home, decide what you actually need to take with you rather than automatically taking your entire handbag or wallet out of habit. For example, if you are going to the grocery store for a few items, you can carry cash, a single check, or credit/debit card, I.D. and keys in a pocket.
• Carry keys in your pocket rather than in a purse or handbag.
• Don’t leave your valuables (bags, purses, briefcases,) unattended. We often will leave them in dressing rooms, shopping carts and cars…. Always maintain positive control over your items.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
Mark Solomon, South Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator
Thursday, May 22, 2008
May 20th South Precinct Update
Warm Weather Security Tips
It’s that time of year that we review home security tips for the warm weather months. We do this on a continuing basis for a few reasons:
1) A large number of burglaries and thefts occur year-round via opened and/or unlocked doors and windows. That number dramatically increases during warm weather months because windows are left open for ventilation, even when the home is unoccupied.
2) Garages and storage sheds are often left opened and unattended while we’re working in our yards.
3) Personal belongings are often left unattended while at a recreational venue or in vehicles.
We want to reiterate some safety tips to help reduce incidents of burglary and theft.
Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your windows. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to a length that prevents the window from being opened more than four inches. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops on the inside track, which prevent them from being opened too far.
Lock Your Doors
Anytime you leave your home, even if it for a very short amount of time, lock your doors. If you have deadbolt locks, please lock them.
• As always, we advise that you install 3”-4” screws on the strike plates of your exterior doors. These secure the plates to the jamb and the jamb to the framing of the door. This essentially makes the bolt from the lock going into the jamb “extend” in to the frame, making a properly locked door more secure.
Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave your front door open and/or unlocked. If you have a garage or storage unit that is out of your line of sight, close those doors as well. Be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to anyone who may be walking or driving by.
Do Not Leave Personal Belongings Unattended
Whether they are in a shopping cart or on a picnic blanket, always maintain positive control over your belongings. Never leave personal belongings unattended in your vehicle. Seattle has a high rate of theft of personal property from vehicles, particularly at public parks.
Bicycles
I recently toured our Evidence Unit. One thing that struck me was the number of bicycles that we have warehoused. This photo shows just one row of unclaimed bicycles that were found or recovered that we have no way of getting back to the owner. There are another four rows of bicycles just like this one. (By the way, the small figure a couple of hundred feet in the background is yours truly.) This gives you an idea as just how many orphaned bicycles we have. Again, we have no way of returning them to their rightful owners because their owners cannot be identified.
If you own a bicycle, please mark down the make, model, model number and serial number. Keep this information on an inventory sheet. Keep the inventory sheet (which should also have information of you other valuable items) with your other important papers. Take a picture of the bike. Engrave the bike with your Driver’s license or State ID card number. An engraver can be purchased from most hardware stores (Lowe’s, Ace) for about $20-$25. And please, use a cable/chain and lock and lock up your bike.
What’s going to happen to all the bikes? Some will be donated, but most will be auctioned. Property auctions are now set up on line and operate like an eBay system. Check out www.propertyroom.com. After Propertyroom.com covers their costs, the funds from the auction go towards police pension funds.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, SPD South Precinct Crime Prevention
It’s that time of year that we review home security tips for the warm weather months. We do this on a continuing basis for a few reasons:
1) A large number of burglaries and thefts occur year-round via opened and/or unlocked doors and windows. That number dramatically increases during warm weather months because windows are left open for ventilation, even when the home is unoccupied.
2) Garages and storage sheds are often left opened and unattended while we’re working in our yards.
3) Personal belongings are often left unattended while at a recreational venue or in vehicles.
We want to reiterate some safety tips to help reduce incidents of burglary and theft.
Close And Lock Windows; Limit How Far They Can Be Opened
When you are away from home, close and lock your windows. If you want to leave windows open enough for ventilation, use a dowel for sliding glass windows cut to a length that prevents the window from being opened more than four inches. For double hung windows, consider sash pins. Some windows have stops on the inside track, which prevent them from being opened too far.
Lock Your Doors
Anytime you leave your home, even if it for a very short amount of time, lock your doors. If you have deadbolt locks, please lock them.
• As always, we advise that you install 3”-4” screws on the strike plates of your exterior doors. These secure the plates to the jamb and the jamb to the framing of the door. This essentially makes the bolt from the lock going into the jamb “extend” in to the frame, making a properly locked door more secure.
Working In The Yard
When working in the yard in the back of the home, do not leave your front door open and/or unlocked. If you have a garage or storage unit that is out of your line of sight, close those doors as well. Be mindful of what are you showing in plain view to anyone who may be walking or driving by.
Do Not Leave Personal Belongings Unattended
Whether they are in a shopping cart or on a picnic blanket, always maintain positive control over your belongings. Never leave personal belongings unattended in your vehicle. Seattle has a high rate of theft of personal property from vehicles, particularly at public parks.
Bicycles
I recently toured our Evidence Unit. One thing that struck me was the number of bicycles that we have warehoused. This photo shows just one row of unclaimed bicycles that were found or recovered that we have no way of getting back to the owner. There are another four rows of bicycles just like this one. (By the way, the small figure a couple of hundred feet in the background is yours truly.) This gives you an idea as just how many orphaned bicycles we have. Again, we have no way of returning them to their rightful owners because their owners cannot be identified.
If you own a bicycle, please mark down the make, model, model number and serial number. Keep this information on an inventory sheet. Keep the inventory sheet (which should also have information of you other valuable items) with your other important papers. Take a picture of the bike. Engrave the bike with your Driver’s license or State ID card number. An engraver can be purchased from most hardware stores (Lowe’s, Ace) for about $20-$25. And please, use a cable/chain and lock and lock up your bike.
What’s going to happen to all the bikes? Some will be donated, but most will be auctioned. Property auctions are now set up on line and operate like an eBay system. Check out www.propertyroom.com. After Propertyroom.com covers their costs, the funds from the auction go towards police pension funds.
Until next time, Take Care and Stay Safe! Mark Solomon, SPD South Precinct Crime Prevention
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
South Precinct Email Community Newsletter
Dear Community Friends:
Graffiti
Graffiti is marking, drawing, etching (or other methods) on public or private property without the owner’s permission, usually done by a person or group seeking recognition. Graffiti is a crime of Vandalism as it results in property damage. Several months ago, we reported there had been a marked increase in graffiti vandalism. Unfortunately, graffiti incidents have been on the rise, which is why we are revisiting this issue.
“Tagger” graffiti (writing the name or “tag” of the individual who put it up) represents the majority of the graffiti on our streets. However, we are also seeing increases in gang related graffiti (gangs “laying claim” to territory or sending a message to rival gangs). This increase in both tagger and gang-related graffiti has been noted city wide, not just in South Seattle. In fact, the North Precinct has had nearly four times as many incidents of graffiti vandalism in the first quarter of 2008 than the South Precinct has experienced. This vandalism occurs mostly in the later evening/early morning hours.
Most of us feel more afraid about the gang graffiti because of the intent behind it. The key is that graffiti needs to be removed regardless of it being gang related, a tag or a mural piece. It’s still property damage and needs to be treated as such. The motive behind the graffiti is not important; removing it is.
Report Graffiti
· If you see graffiti vandalism in progress, call 911. Graffiti vandals must be caught in the act to be prosecuted.
· When graffiti appears, whether on your private property or on city/government property, make a police report. Call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
· Call the City’s Graffiti Hotline (206) 684-7587, to report graffiti on public property (street signs, retaining walls, poles, traffic control boxes, parking meters, bridges, mailboxes, etc.), or graffiti that has not been removed from private property. Be sure to indicate the exact location.
· When graffiti appears on your home, apartment building, or business, take a photo of it to document for insurance purposes.
Who’s responsible for the increase? The bottom line is that graffiti vandalism is being committed by our youth, not by outsiders. Know who your children are hanging out with and when. If they are spending many late night hours somewhere other than home, find out where and ask yourself why. Know what they are doing. If your kid has several cans of spray paint, find out what they’re doing with it. Hold them accountable.
What follows are some graffiti prevention tips and resource information. This information is courtesy of Seattle Public Utilities. Seattle Public Utilities is the City agency responsible for addressing litter, illegal dumping and graffiti complaints.
Resource links are provided on the left of this page.
Be Safe, Mark Solomon
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Update - shooting and groper
From my police dept. source:
"...the shooting was about a guy who just couldn't let go when his girlfriend dumped him for another guy. Dude went looking for them and he found them at the Beacon. It didn't matter where he found them, he would have done it. They just happened to be at the Beacon. The regular patrons of the Pub are like a family and the owner really makes an effort to keep riff raff out and to be a good neighbor."
That said, keep going to the pub if you enjoy the bar as much as I do.
"As far as the Groper, it's a misnomer to call him the Beacon Groper for a couple of reasons:
- the attacks have been all over the place, not just Beacon. In fact there have been more on/around Rainier.
- Also, there may be more than one guy doing these. There have been some on First Hill as well."
And with that, just be aware of yourself, those around you and your surroundings. Be safe and stay well -
If the neighbors want to meet, we have not in a while, let me know and I can set something up!
Cheers! L.
"...the shooting was about a guy who just couldn't let go when his girlfriend dumped him for another guy. Dude went looking for them and he found them at the Beacon. It didn't matter where he found them, he would have done it. They just happened to be at the Beacon. The regular patrons of the Pub are like a family and the owner really makes an effort to keep riff raff out and to be a good neighbor."
That said, keep going to the pub if you enjoy the bar as much as I do.
"As far as the Groper, it's a misnomer to call him the Beacon Groper for a couple of reasons:
- the attacks have been all over the place, not just Beacon. In fact there have been more on/around Rainier.
- Also, there may be more than one guy doing these. There have been some on First Hill as well."
And with that, just be aware of yourself, those around you and your surroundings. Be safe and stay well -
If the neighbors want to meet, we have not in a while, let me know and I can set something up!
Cheers! L.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Shooting at the BEACON PUB - What is up?
y BRAD WONG
P-I REPORTER
A woman and two men were shot and wounded inside a Beacon Hill tavern late Friday night and the gunman remains at large, Seattle police reported.
The shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. inside The Beacon Pub, near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street.
"We've never had a problem," said the owner's mother, Laura Francis. "This is a shame. ... With all her heart, my daughter tries to keep the bad out of here."
Francis said she had heard from pub workers that the gunman was sitting at the end of the bar near the restrooms. When a woman walked out of them, he pulled his gun and fired at least three rounds before he took off, she said.
It was unclear if the people he shot were his intended target.
A 27-year-old woman, who was shot in the chest, and a 37-year-old man, shot twice in the torso, were both in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said.
The second man, 28, was shot in the right knee.
Witt said investigators do not know what led to the violence and have not been able to link the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, to the victims.
The shooting occurred during one of the pub's popular karaoke nights that had drawn a crowd of about 50 people. But even in the crowd, one pub worker told Francis the man looked familiar.
But the woman who was shot and the 28-year-old man "stated that they did not know the suspect, the shooter, and did not know of a possible motive," Witt said.
Investigators have not yet talked with the 37-year-old victim because he was being treated at Harborview Medical Center.
Francis said her daughter, Laurie Lusko, called her after the shooting, saying, "Hurry up! Get over here, please. Someone had a gun and shot people."
By the time she arrived, police had already descended on the neighborhood pub.
"Ambulances were coming like crazy," Francis said.
The 66-year-old woman said pub workers believed the suspect might have been jealous of his girlfriend, who was there with a man.
"People today are so angry," she said.
The gunman may have been drinking, Francis said, because police inspected a shot glass at the bar. They also dusted the bar for fingerprints.
Francis does not believe the shooting is related to violence that has occurred inside or outside larger Seattle bars and clubs. Mayor Greg Nickels has been pushing for city licensing of nightclubs, hoping that could limit the violence.
Lusko has owned The Beacon Pub since 2000, her mother said.
In the past, there have been a few obnoxious patrons and minor scuffles, Francis said, but never this type of violence.
The tavern is waiting for recently-ordered security cameras to arrive, she added, and Lusko wants employees to take security classes to help with spotting and resolving problems.
The pub is in a Beacon Hill neighborhood that also has a hair salon, shipping office, restaurant and stores. Inside, a pool table sits in the back and televisions sit above the bar. Neighbors said local bands often play inside on a small stage.
But The Beacon Pub's biggest draw are its regular karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Fridays that attract patrons outside of Beacon Hill, some from Ballard or even Puyallup.
As news spread through the area Saturday morning, neighbors dropped by to ask what happened and to give owner Lusko their support.
"It's a great local pub. I think now and then you get a stray cat that wanders in," said neighbor Bryan Traversari, 37. "It could have happened anywhere, at a parking lot. I don't think it was because of the crowd."
Neighbor Keri Jones, 40, stood outside the pub Saturday morning. She planned on patronizing it when it opened in the afternoon to support Lusko.
"I'm sorry it happened here," Jones said. "I hope the pub doesn't have to pay for someone else's action."
P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.
P-I REPORTER
A woman and two men were shot and wounded inside a Beacon Hill tavern late Friday night and the gunman remains at large, Seattle police reported.
The shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. inside The Beacon Pub, near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Hanford Street.
"We've never had a problem," said the owner's mother, Laura Francis. "This is a shame. ... With all her heart, my daughter tries to keep the bad out of here."
Francis said she had heard from pub workers that the gunman was sitting at the end of the bar near the restrooms. When a woman walked out of them, he pulled his gun and fired at least three rounds before he took off, she said.
It was unclear if the people he shot were his intended target.
A 27-year-old woman, who was shot in the chest, and a 37-year-old man, shot twice in the torso, were both in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said.
The second man, 28, was shot in the right knee.
Witt said investigators do not know what led to the violence and have not been able to link the gunman, believed to be in his 20s, to the victims.
The shooting occurred during one of the pub's popular karaoke nights that had drawn a crowd of about 50 people. But even in the crowd, one pub worker told Francis the man looked familiar.
But the woman who was shot and the 28-year-old man "stated that they did not know the suspect, the shooter, and did not know of a possible motive," Witt said.
Investigators have not yet talked with the 37-year-old victim because he was being treated at Harborview Medical Center.
Francis said her daughter, Laurie Lusko, called her after the shooting, saying, "Hurry up! Get over here, please. Someone had a gun and shot people."
By the time she arrived, police had already descended on the neighborhood pub.
"Ambulances were coming like crazy," Francis said.
The 66-year-old woman said pub workers believed the suspect might have been jealous of his girlfriend, who was there with a man.
"People today are so angry," she said.
The gunman may have been drinking, Francis said, because police inspected a shot glass at the bar. They also dusted the bar for fingerprints.
Francis does not believe the shooting is related to violence that has occurred inside or outside larger Seattle bars and clubs. Mayor Greg Nickels has been pushing for city licensing of nightclubs, hoping that could limit the violence.
Lusko has owned The Beacon Pub since 2000, her mother said.
In the past, there have been a few obnoxious patrons and minor scuffles, Francis said, but never this type of violence.
The tavern is waiting for recently-ordered security cameras to arrive, she added, and Lusko wants employees to take security classes to help with spotting and resolving problems.
The pub is in a Beacon Hill neighborhood that also has a hair salon, shipping office, restaurant and stores. Inside, a pool table sits in the back and televisions sit above the bar. Neighbors said local bands often play inside on a small stage.
But The Beacon Pub's biggest draw are its regular karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Fridays that attract patrons outside of Beacon Hill, some from Ballard or even Puyallup.
As news spread through the area Saturday morning, neighbors dropped by to ask what happened and to give owner Lusko their support.
"It's a great local pub. I think now and then you get a stray cat that wanders in," said neighbor Bryan Traversari, 37. "It could have happened anywhere, at a parking lot. I don't think it was because of the crowd."
Neighbor Keri Jones, 40, stood outside the pub Saturday morning. She planned on patronizing it when it opened in the afternoon to support Lusko.
"I'm sorry it happened here," Jones said. "I hope the pub doesn't have to pay for someone else's action."
P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.
Troubles at the Beacon Pub? Friday Night Shooting
A woman and two men were shot and seriously injured when a man opened fire for unknown reasons in a Beacon Hill tavern Friday night, Seattle police reported.
The woman, 27, and a 37-year-old man were in stable condition Saturday evening after undergoing surgery at Harborview Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The woman was shot in the chest and the man was shot twice in the torso at The Beacon Pub, 3057 Beacon Ave. S., according to police spokeswoman Renee Witt. A 28-year-old man, shot in the knee, also was being treated at Harborview.
Witt said two of the victims "stated that they did not know the shooter and didn't know of a possible motive." The third victim, the 37-year-old, was not immediately interviewed because he was being treated at the time.
The woman, 27, and a 37-year-old man were in stable condition Saturday evening after undergoing surgery at Harborview Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.
The woman was shot in the chest and the man was shot twice in the torso at The Beacon Pub, 3057 Beacon Ave. S., according to police spokeswoman Renee Witt. A 28-year-old man, shot in the knee, also was being treated at Harborview.
Witt said two of the victims "stated that they did not know the shooter and didn't know of a possible motive." The third victim, the 37-year-old, was not immediately interviewed because he was being treated at the time.