Over the last couple of days, neighbors have experienced a rash of unwanted solicitors, often knocking loudly on doors and repeatedly ringing doorbells.  The Magnolia Moms and Dads group was inundated with posts yesterday about a person or pairs of people aggressively approaching homes, some blatantly ignoring “no solicitors” signs. 

Magwife, A Magnolia Voice tipster posted this last night:

“Over the past 2-days, two men have come to my door 3 different times, claiming to be seeking opportunities to practice social skills/public speaking. I answered the door just once but didn’t let them get far into the speech because I fell for an identical scenario about 6-months back – the guy tied the story in with magazine sales. I bought some mag subscriptions but never received anything. I later read on Magnolia Voice that this was a nationwide scam, potentially tied into home invasions. Anyway, it seems really weird that they keep returning even though my husband and i both I told them we aren’t interested. They have been here during the middle of the day and later at night…”

Among the more than 15 related posts yesterday on Magnolia Moms and Dads, residents reported:

• A man lurking in the dark near a duplex on 33rd ave w between Bertona and w Ruffner
• Solicitors banging on doors and repeatedly ringing doorbells on Smith and 29th
• 2 different groups of people soliciting the same house twice in 5 days near the Howe St. tennis courts
• 2 guys on Viewmont knocking on doors selling magazines

In one post, the homeowner called the police, and they came to take a statement.  The officer told her that she had done the right thing by calling 911.  He said that if you see anything out of the ordinary or suspicious to call 911, not the non-emergency number.   That way they can track the complaints and keep our neighborhood safe. He reiterated that even if it does not look like a crime, call 911 and let them know what you see. It may be just the detail they need for a case they are working on.  As of press time, the police are in pursuit of the person of interest, and had an idea of where the person might be, because of calls and tips from our neighbors.

Former West Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston said in a recent note:

I think I speak for the entire Community Police Team when I tell you that every day in our e-mail inbox, or on our telephone’s voicemail inbox, we find messages from the community that say something like this, “I wanted to let you know that I just saw something suspicious……….but I didn’t think this merited a 9-1-1 call”. Almost always the information is detailed, withgood descriptions and refers to something that may or may not have been criminal, but certainly seemed odd. And almost always it is too late for SPD to do anything with that information. I am now hoping to encourage you to trust that gut feeling of yours. If you get the sense that something weird is happening, even if it isn’t an emergency, please call 9-1-1 and simply state what you are reporting. The call taker will decide whether your call should be transferred off the primary line onto a secondary line. You don’t know what you prevent by getting a patrol cruiser coming into your neighborhood.

Seattle Police are investigating three more home burglaries in Magnolia that happened over the past few days.  The complete police reports aren’t available yet, but here are the locations:

October 11: 2900 block of West Lynn Street

October 7:  3800 block of 26th Ave West

October 2:  3800 block of 35th Ave West

A man says he was attacked after getting into a verbal confrontation at the AM/PM on 20th Ave West.  On October 2 around 2am, the victim says he was at the store buying beer and cigarettes when he asked four people inside a car to turn down their music as they were getting gas.  After exchanging some words, the victim started walking home.

When he got to the area of 21st Ave and Thorndyke the people in the car came up and surrounded him.  One of the people had a knife and wrestled the victim to the ground.  The other 3 people also started kicking and hitting the victim before taking his beer and cigarettes.  The victim says the group was riding in some type of SUV with the top cut off.

Meanwhile, police are also investigating three recent home burglaries in Magnolia:

10/5: 2100 block of Condon Way

9/30:  2600 block of Galer

9/28:  2300 block of Crockett

You can track neighborhood crime on the Seattle Police crime map.

Burglars broke into Blaine School last weekend and made off with some expensive equipment.  Sometime between Friday night and Monday morning, the thieves broke a window and headed for the computer room.  They took a large computer cart that had 19 computers and some wireless routers.  Officers believe the cart weighed at least 300 pounds.  Burglary detectives were called in to process the scene.  Officials at Blaine tell us they’ve received 16 loaner computers to make up for the stolen ones.

A Magnolia couple has a warning about a disturbing encounter some children had recently in the village.  Their original email has been sent out to several other parents.  Here are the basic facts without using any names:

On 9/7, three children were approached by a man in the village outside the bookstore. He offered them a bookmark and talked about God. One of the children felt uncomfortable, saw a neighbor, and did a shout out “hello Mrs. Neighbor” just let the guy know that she knew an adult who was close by.  After that the man retreated to his van. After the neighbor went into a store, the man waited 2 minutes and then approached the children again. He told them ”you shouldn’t really have taken those bookmarks from me. I could have put poison on the bookmark and then you could have put the bookmark in your mouth and you could have been poisoned or fallen asleep.  I could have robbed you, stolen you or raped you.”

The kids started to get up to leave and he said “Oh I see you go to Our Lady of Fatima, I think I have a daughter about your age, what are you….about 14?” They said “yes” and then parted ways.

We talked with one of parents who tells us they called police and made a report.  The man is described as being about 5’8″, bald on top, with round frameless glasses and very skinny.  He wore a rainbow colored shirt and khaki pants. He was driving a large brown van with striped curtains in the window.

We’ve noticed another spike in car prowls in and around Discovery Park.  The Seattle Police crime map shows three car prowls inside the park (one on Sept. 7, two more on Sept. 13).  There was also one just outside the park in the 3600 block of Emerson on September 13.

Three burglaries were reported in Magnolia over the past week. 

A resident in the 2500 block of Perkins Lane called police on September 1 to report that someone had stolen items from his home sometime between August 11 and August 31.  Officers say the doors were unsecured and there was no obvious point of entry.  One neighbor heard some noises at the home during that time but assumed it was coming from dogs.  Officers were able to find some fingerprints.

Also on September 1, officers responded to a non-residential burglary in the 2400 block of 32nd Ave W.  The door was kicked in and the dead bolt was broken.  Property was thrown all over the place, but it was unclear if anything had been stolen.

Another non-residential burglary was reported on September 2 in 2500 block of 34th Ave W.  The full police report on that crime isn’t available yet.

Thieves have set their sights on Lawton Elementary School in the 4000 block of 27th Ave W over the past few days.  This past Saturday (8/28), someone cut a lock to the north gate of the school.  A large rock was used to break the window of room 101.  The window isn’t large, which leads officers to believe the burglars were small in stature.  They apparently made off with a laptop computer.

The following day, officers noticed that someone had also tried to break into room 102 by using a large tool to open a window.  The damage was considerable and officers didn’t notice it during their investigation on Saturday, leading them to believe it was a separate burglary attempt.  This time, the burglars didn’t make it inside.

We’ve noticed a spike in car prowls around Discovery Park over the past few days.  According to Seattle Police, two car prowls were reported in the east parking lot on August 24 and 25.  Another car prowl was reported in the 4300 block of 36th Ave W on August 24.

Officers with a K9 unit responded to a report of a break-in at the abandoned Magnolia School on 28th Ave. W. this evening.

Seattle Police said they arrested two juveniles inside shortly after they arrived. A police dog searched the premises but found no other suspects.

An officer told us they discovered a broken window, but it was unclear if the damage was related to the break-in.

Magnolia School has been closed since 1984, used a temporary facility for a few times, and is currently overgrown with brush and, in parts, covered with graffiti.
(Thanks Carilyn for the tip!)

Some Magnolia homeowners having dinner got quite a surprise when a man tried to break into their house.  It happened around 6:30pm last Thursday (8/12) in the 2800 block of 36th Ave W.  The residents were sitting at the kitchen table when they saw a man walk up and try to get in their side door.  He walked off and they called police.  Officers caught up with the man at 34th and Armour and arrested him.

The people who work directly with our neighborhood in preventing crime could soon be out of a job. The six civilian crime prevention coordinators for the Seattle Police Department, including West Precinct and Magnolia coordinator Terrie Johnston, have been told they’ll lose their jobs next spring when grant money runs out.

The crime prevention coordinators work directly with residents doing everything from setting up block watches to going door to door to warn about recent crimes. They’ve been part of the police budget up until last October, when the positions then became paid for with federal grant money. That ends on March 31 of next year.

“We are the link between the community and the police department,” Terrie Johnston (pictured right) told us. “Patrol officers are often promoted or transfer out. We’re the ones in people’s living rooms and churches.”

Johnston and her fellow coordinators have logged hundreds of community meetings over the past year. She worries that officers and precinct bosses won’t be able to give residents one on one attention if the crime prevention coordinators are let go.

“When we’re gone, who will take the time?”

Councilmember Tim Burgess, who chairs the Public Safety and Education committee, tells us his office is closely tracking the issue as it heads toward the mayor and council. If you’d like to voice your opinions, here’s a link to the mayor and City Council.

Seattle Police responded to burglary alarms that were set off in multiple places inside the old Magnolia Elementary School on 28th Ave W.  On June 18 just after 5pm, several people apparently broke into the building by prying open the doors on the east side.  Since the building is vacant, no one is sure if anything of value was taken.  Several witnesses saw people walking toward the old school and leaving the area, but officers didn’t find any suspects.

A witness called police after seeing two people inside a rented commercial studio suite in the apartment/business building at 2015 West Dravus.  It happened around 12:30am on June 2.  The two burglars fled after being confronted by the building manager. The witness chased after the men and actually caught up with one of them, grabbing him by the shoulders.  The burglar then pulled out a buck knife and said “..look man, I don’t want to do this.”  The witness let him go and lost sight of the men.  It doesn’t appear the men were able to steal anything.