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March stats show jump in Capitol Hill burglary reports during COVID-19 lockdown, drop in overall crime

Life on Mars suffered a bout of busted glass but no other significant damage in an incident over the weekend. In a message to Washington D.C. leaders posted by the Pike/Pine bar, ownership called for help: “Please get us some real help. Tired of hearing from many friends having to close their places down already because they know they can’t come out the other side of it.” (Image: Life on Mars)

Total Reported Crime East Precinct

Total Reported Crime Seattle

Total crime reported in March dropped 18% vs. February across the East Precinct

The art covered plywood panels covering the shuttered businesses of Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill have been a symbol of Seattle’s artistic resilience in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. But the coverings are there for a reason.

Seattle Police statistics for March show the neighborhood was hit by a rash of burglaries with 36% more reported across the East Precinct than last year. And, of course, most of those — around three out of four — involved commercial properties and businesses.

Reported East Precinct Burglaries

Reported Seattle Burglaries

But not all hope is lost and society has not yet, gone fully Mad Max. With “stay home” restrictions in place, total crime was actually down across Seattle and on Capitol Hill and the Central District.

Included in that softening is one obvious outcome: Residential burglaries have dropped.

The difficulties for home burglars has actually been so strong that Seattle’s total burglary tally even counting a citywide surge in commercial break-ins was basically at the same level as last year with 755 reported.

 

Also a peculiar positive, theft was down hugely — there are few businesses open to steal from. Reported robberies and assaults were also down across the city and in the East Precinct.

Other crime headaches won’t go away. East Precinct auto theft remained at typical levels for March but dropped across Seattle.

Reported East Precinct Assaults

Reported Seattle Assaults

As for the burglaries, SPD reports it took two suspects into custody Sunday wanted in connection with nearly 200 cases:

Around 2:30 PM on Sunday, officers were patrolling near East Olive Way and Bellevue Avenue when they spotted several people in a blue Mini Cooper parked in a lot. When officers approached, the car’s occupants scattered. Officers found crowbars and other burglary tools sitting in the car, and quickly discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen. With the help of a witness, were able to identify the car’s driver and a passenger and found them a few blocks away.

Police say the 21-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man admitted to over 100 burglaries in the East Precinct, and over 80 elsewhere in the city. They were booked into the King County Jail for auto theft and burglary.

 

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Alocal
Alocal
5 years ago

Answer – 10pm curfew. Nothing is open. No one needs to be out.

iluvcaphill
iluvcaphill
5 years ago
Reply to  Alocal

The State Supreme court has overturned countless curfew laws in this state related to minors, there is no way they would allow one that covered the entire population. And plenty of shift workers need to be able to be out during irregular hours to get fresh air and exercise.

Alex S.
Alex S.
5 years ago
Reply to  iluvcaphill

Not true. RCW 43.06.220 is still law, and the Governor’s power to enact curfews is specifically called out in it.

Lucky for the criminals, street punks and vagabonds who are destroying small biz owners’ shops & re-selling the stuff they steal for pennies on the dollar or trading it for drugs…. they are now considered victims of society. So it’s open season on those greedy capitalists. No curfews for the Republic of Seattle!

Alex S.
Alex S.
5 years ago

180 burglaries for those two 20-somethings. I’m sure they have been let out of jail by now so they can try to hit the 200 milestone by month’s end. That’s the Seattle Criminals’ Justice System we are all supposed to be so proud of.

PD
PD
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex S.

Dude.

I know you think you’re crazy as a fox, but really you’re just crazy as Fox News.

Fairly Obvious
Fairly Obvious
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex S.

I mean the president set a precedent that Americans can allegedly commit a crime, declare their innocence in advance and the trial will get cancelled before it starts. These two individuals you seemed to be obsessed with had to go to trial.

Should we follow the president’s lead and just skip their trials as well? That seems to be what he’s advocating: a society where nobody is accountable for their actions, despite being the leader of the “tough on crime” party.