Note: SPD’s public reporting resources have broken down over the holiday so please help us stay on top of things by sending mail or calling/txting us at (206) 399-5959 if you see something others should know about.
- A neighbor tells CHS of a bus stop robbery Saturday morning near 12th and John. According to the neighbor, a woman was robbed Saturday morning while waiting for the bus on E John near 12th. Police confirmed the purse snatch attempt. The neighbor tells CHS the mugger was an especially mean chap:
This morning at 7am I was awakened by noise on the street outside my window. It was my neighbor lady who had just been robbed and then kicked to the ground while waiting for the bus on her way to work. I am sick to my stomach at the thought of what happened.
Chris and I sat and consoled her afterwards but I felt there was nothing I could do. I am sending the universe light and love. We are all brothers and sisters, please let’s start acting like it. Namaste…
called her a “rich bitch” and was kinda giving her shit before he went for her purse and kicked her to the ground as he ran… made off with her handbag and a kindle) seems she was holding her cell, keys and wallet (YAY!)
Police say the woman was kicked as she struggled to hold onto her bag and was pulled to the ground but declined medical attention. The suspect was described as a black male in his 40s wearing a dark hoodie.
- Reader Jeffrey came home from holiday travels to an unfortunate welcome at his Harrison and Summit apartment:
I know you guys post about this sometimes, so I wanted to give you a heads up that my apartment at Harrison and Summit was burglarized sometime between Christmas eve and Thursday afternoon (both my roommate and myself were out of town for the holidays.) The door was forced open and from what I can tell so far my flat screen tv, laptop computer, and a modem and router were stolen. Just wondering if maybe you heard of any other reports of theft on the hill during that time window.
- If you missed it, CHS has more details on the fake cop patrolling Volunteer Park who has reportedly robbed two people in recent weeks.
My clients had just closed on their new condo off Boylston in Eastlake (right near cap hill) and while they were out of town visiting family, someone tried to force their door open at the lock. There was some bit of damage to the door and the lock, but luckily they didn’t get in.
One thing I advised them to do was to put their lights on timers at random times throughout their home. Also have someone pick up the mail, or newspapers. I had someone break into my home over the holidays last year, while I was sleeping in it, because they saw newspapers by my front door.
Let this be a warning if you ever post that you are out of town on Facebook it may bite you in the ass. Something tells me that they posted their travels and may have been robbed by people who knew what they had in their apartment.
I’d stopped riding my bike because many (not all) drivers have no idea how to properly share the rodes with cyclists (and it doesn’t help bike lanes suck in Seattle). Anyhow, I’d stopped riding because it felt unsafe. Now I feel unsafe just walking to my bus stop in the morning. At least on a bike, I can be mobile and not a sitting duck. I know crime stats are similar to prior years, and maybe I’m just now paying more attention (and your blog is), but it just feels more brazen and desperate now. Capitol Hill = Money = Target. Solution? Find a fellow bus commuter to time waiting at a bus stop with so not alone? Kinda like carpooling but for pedestrians? Also same with walking to work downtown. Buddy up? Or try to walk to a more populated bus stop even if a bit out of the way? Still these crimes can take seconds. Still would like to know there is something to do about them.
I’d like to suggest that we place armed guards or citizen volunteers at every bus stop. We need to end this insanity now!
Serenity now.
WP
If you are walking to / from or waiting at a bus stop at late / early hours:
Carry pepper spray and have your finger on the nozzle in your pocket.
Don’t wear ear buds or headphones.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Keep your valuables out of sight (phone, ipad, wallet, purse, etc.)
If you can, walk well lit, main routes as opposed to darker side streets.
Just when I thought that urban thuggery couldn’t get any meaner…it did! My condolences to the woman who was viciously attacked (physically and verbally) and robbed.
Be advised pepper spray (OC) take a couple minutes to start burning. It will get someone off you eventually, but they will be scrappy for what seems a long time. Still worth carrying if you want, just keep in mind it isn’t a tazer.