Reader Christy asked us to pass along this warning after her car was broken into in Woodland Park on Tuesday (11/9). The thieves made off with her credit cards and managed to use them at a few stores before she canceled them.
I filed a police report, and the officer I’ve been dealing with said there were a rash of car break-ins that day (smash-and-grab style). They thought they had a lead when they got security camera footage from the gas station where they used my card; while they got a plate number, it turned out to be stolen. These people know what they’re doing.
I’ve talked to several people who’ve had things stolen from cars recently; it’s probably a good time to remind residents to not leave anything in a car, even for two minutes and even if the car is locked (as was the case for me).
Also, the thieves were able to use my cards even though they were obviously not me (I don’t know any men named Christy!) and didn’t have my PIN number.
If people in Fremont keep their eyes peeled for any strange activity (the break-ins happened in the middle of the day), maybe we can catch these guys. They know what they’re doing; who knows how many people they’ve ripped off.
7 responses so far ↓
1 me // Nov 12, 2010 at 6:02 pm
K so the break ins is due to there been a church that offers help to a couple dozen homeless people. I used to be at the zoo on an average of 2 or more days per week and every day there were several questionable characters by the zoo, at the woodland park and several vans parked along phinney ridge were people lived inside of them and most likely used drugs….as everyone came out loaded from the vans. My boss had her car broken into in View Ridge and a man used her card at the 7 eleven across the street from the woodland park zoo. that was about a year ago. i would start by checking out all those vans with people inside if i was the police
2 A // Nov 13, 2010 at 10:07 am
Why do you have credit cards in your car? If they were in a purse - that’s even worse!
3 tweets9 // Nov 13, 2010 at 10:12 am
There’s no evidence that any of the things you mention are connected. Some homeless people are criminals. Some people with homes are criminals.
Christy–sorry about your hassle, expense, and the sense of vulnerability that comes from something like this. Hope they find who did this.
4 Hayduke // Nov 13, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@tweets9: I agree with you that there’s no evidence of a connection between the breakins and the nearby homeless shelter.
But to put the likelihood of criminal activity of the average homeless person on the same level of likelihood as the average homeowner is just silly. No, not all homeless are criminals. But where would you feel more safe walking by yourself at night: Down a residential street in Phinney Ridge, or through some homeless “jungle” under I-5?
5 JM // Nov 13, 2010 at 3:47 pm
There are not as many of the trucks and vans parked on Phinney, near the zoo, as last year. We used to see some vehicles sit for months at a time.
6 Ryan // Nov 15, 2010 at 11:06 am
Seattle sweeped the parked vehicles off these streets, … Linden used to have a similar problem, as well as Fremont Ave (ie under the big trees 1/2 way down the hill)
Email the precinct or call them and let them know they’re reappearing…
7 doug in seattle. // Nov 15, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Hayduke –
I would bet money at the notion that the vast majority of crimes are committed by people who live in houses.
I would also argue that the average homeless person is no more likely to be a criminal than the average person who lives in a house.
Also, I would submit that the homeless are overwhelming victims of crime rather than perpetrators of crime.
Please enlighten me, though — how do you come to know that “the Jungle” represents the majority of homeless in our city. Have you gone down and interviewed the residents there? Do you actually have any idea who the homeless people in this city are?
I don’t, but then I don’t cast aimless aspersions upon people that I know nothing about.
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