It’s not every day we get a crime report from the East Precinct commander but this one comes right from the mouth of Capt. Jim Dermody during his briefing Thursday night at the precinct’s July community crime meeting.
According to Dermody, a woman visiting Seattle from Los Angeles was robbed of her purse Thursday morning near Pine and Boylston. Dermody said the woman told police she was walking to the hospital and not paying attention when a man grabbed her purse from behind ran off. According to Dermody, the man was caught a short time later after witnesses reported seeing him run into a building on Boylston near where the purse snatch occurred. Dermody said the man had a warrant and had left a mandatory rehab program. The man said he was addicted to heroin and stole the purse for money to get a fix, Dermody said.
- Police might have made a dent in the flow of stolen goods from burglars and shoplifters on Capitol Hill and around the city. SeattleCrime.com is reporting that police believe they have busted a ring of cab drivers operating what authorities call a major “open air market” for stolen goods in downtown.
Police say a cab stand and pay parking lot at the corner of 6th and Stewart—across the street from the Westin Hotel, and about three blocks from the Seattle Police Department’s West Precinct—has become a hot spot for thieves to fence–or resell–stolen perfume, iPods and handbags taken in shoplifts, car prowls, and burglaries of homes and businesses in downtown Seattle.
CHS has learned that SPD found that more than one thief busted on Capitol Hill was aware of the downtown cabbie market and used it to move stolen goods. Capt. Dermody said that, at this time, he’s not aware of any similar complaints about cab drivers on Capitol Hill at popular taxi standing spots like the Shell Station at Pine and Broadway.
- The East Precinct is ready for the challenge of patrolling a third day of the already tricky to police Capitol Hill Block Party, Lt. Sean O’Donnell said at Thursday night’s meeting. O’Donnell said there will be more officers on the Hill to help manage the event including two officers from the downtown safety patrols but the music fest means long, hot days for the officers.
I have a lot of negative things to say about Seattle’s cabbies, all from my own personal experiences.
I’ll say this though. I’m always surprised when I go to other cities to learn how much better their cab drivers are.
I don’t ask for much. Get me to my destination safely (don’t drive like an a$$) don’t hit on me and don’t put your religious views on me or threaten me.
Yes, that simple.
Oh, and don’t steal my stuff either…
#1 thing that sucks about Seattle cabbies – they have no fucking clue where ANYTHING is. This has to be the only “big” city where you have to provide directions to your cab driver.
The Cab drivers DO KNOW where places are they act like they don’t. They often take the long way so they can make an extra buck. Last week I had a cab driver tell me to get out of his cab when I knew he was taking the longest way to my house as possible and called him out on it. He actually yelled at me and told me I was wrong I called the dispatch center for yellow cab to report him and they didn’t seem a bit concerned. Personally I would rather walk then support these jerks!
And here I thought it was just the rate out to the airport that was criminal…
It costs about $35 (+ tip) to take a cab from Capitol Hill to the airport, but fortunately we now have a great option….light rail! Recently, I travelled to SeaTac via an inexpensive cab ride from our neighborhood to Westlake, then took the train the rest of the way ($2.50 one-way). I was very impressed with the comfortable, clean train and with the lack of graffiti anywhere. This trip will be even more convenient when the Capitol Hill Sound Transit station opens in 2016.
I used to take Shuttle Express whenever I needed to go to the airport, but was always irritated by the huge increase in rates over the years since it started operating….it was about $8 then, and now something like $25….clearly their business plan was to hook many people into using them, then jack up the rates to unreasonable levels. I’ve noticed that this business now is advertising heavily on the radio..I’m sure they have lost alot of customers to light rail…no sympathy from me, they deserve it for their price gouging.
Ella,
I’ve had the same thing (pretending they don’t know where to go then yelling at you when you call them on it!)
I’m always polite, but if I say, “please turn right in two blocks” then AS SOMEONE I AM PAYING, you better damn well turn right in two blocks and don’t take me hostage and go your own way and yell at me the whole time.
Single young women really get targeted too, as they often put their religion on you.
“Where is your husband? Why are you out late? Does your husband know you are out?”…
If you come to this country and you are going to work for women, then you better treat us as equals and not as you would in your home country, Because we won’t take it, Mr. Cabbie!
Yeah, and the cab companies don’t care about complaints either… sad.
As someone who took Green Cab Seattle nearly weekly for a year, I can’t praise their cabbies enough. Always friendly, the cabs were always clean, they even asked how my boyfriend was doing after they picked him up after surgery with me. Too bad they can’t pick up in Seattle, but if you are on Mercer island or the east side, give them a call. Their dispatchers are sometimes flakey, but it’s worth it to have a clean cab for once (plus they’re all hybrids).
If you need a pickup from the airport, just call Green Limo Seattle. I used them for my engagement and they were courteous and professional (and clean!), for just a little over what a cab would cost. It’s just what you have to do to live as if you were in a better regulated country!
I take ‘em all the time and have never had a problem, I generally use Orange. Usually friendly or not weird, never have issues knowing where to go, always take a fairly direct route.
People that’re having issues, what companies are you having problems with?