We ran our annual “thieves are stealing packages on Capitol Hill” holidays post earlier this month. A recently released SPD incident report documents one way this kind of crime goes down. Meanwhile, another report released this week shines light onto another city-living crime phenomenon — ever see broken ceramic material mixed in with the broken glass near a busted car window? Here’s a look inside the mechanics of two types of Capitol Hill property crime.

First, in a Christmas Eve morn rip-off on East Republican, we find out how a thief can ruin Santa’s plans even with a locked apartment building door:

On 12-24-2010, between 0001-0830 hours, the unknown suspect broke out the approximate 11″ X 11″ stained glass window that was part of the main entrance door to the   apartment building.  After breaking out the window, the suspect was able to reach in and open the main door from the inside.

     Upon forced entry to the lobby of the building, the suspect stole the listed packaged comforter, which tenant V/   had ordered from Amazon.com.  Packages mailed to the building tenants are left next to the tenant mailboxes, which are in the lobby immediately adjacent to the main entry door.  The package would have been visible from outside the building via glass windows on each side of the door.

     On 12-27-2010, the building manager, C/  , called 911 to report the burglary.  I called V/   at work and obtained her information via phone.  She advised me that Amazon.com had been informed of the stolen  package and.  I left an SPD business card with the case number in V/  ‘s mailbox and also provided a business card to C/  .  The repair cost to the listed window is about $600, according to C/  .

Over on Broadway East, this December 26th car break-in is like hundreds that we read about every year on the Hill — except this time the thief left behind possible evidence of their tool of the trade. Anybody know about these ceramic implements of evil?

While working uniformed patrol as 3E33 on 12/26/10 I was dispatched to a car prowl at 1   Broadway E at about 2024 hours. I arrived on scene at about 2032 hours.

On scene I spoke to Complainant   and Victim  . They explained to me the building they live in has an attached secured parking garage. However, this secured parking garage is also shared by other neighboring businesses and is in use all day by their customers. They said anyone coming into the garage needs a garage door opener to gain access inside.

V/   told me she left her car, WA-  , in the secured parking garage on 12/24/10 at about 1300 hours. She and C/   returned this evening at about 1930 hours and noticed her front driver’s side window was shattered. Two spaces away from V/  ‘s vehicle was another vehicle, WA-  , that also had their window shattered. In between V/  ‘s  vehicle and vehicle WA-   was a small piece of white ceramic. Ceramic pieces are known to be used for breaking car windows and C/   picked up the ceramic piece with a plastic bag and gave it to me as evidence upon my arrival.

Only the front driver’s side window of V/  ‘s vehicle was shattered.

She told me a few things from her center console were messed with but nothing was missing from her vehicle.

I ran vehicle WA-   and it came back to   who also lived at the above location in apartment  . I went up to   and attempted to make contact with the registered owner but no one answered the door. I left a business card with the case number on it along with my name and serial number on the windshield of vehicle WA-  . The front passenger’s window was shattered in this vehicle and the glove box was open. There were  numerous items lying on the front passenger seat. It is unknown if anything was taken from this vehicle. V/   explained to me there are  .

There are cameras located in the back alley and at the front entrance to

the building.