Plants Possibly Intentionally Burned in Neighbor's Yard

 The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

Sometime on the night of 8/15 or early morning of 8/16, someone burned to the ground four ornamental grasses at the corner of West Laurel Drive NE and NE 53^rd Avenue.  

Perhaps it could have been an accident, but that seems unlikely. 

Neighbor Reports Loud knocking and Pounding On Door

 The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

We live on the 3300 Block of 46th Ave NE and on February 18th, we were awakened by loud knocks/pounding on our lower deck doors, between 5-5:30am.

About two weeks ago, we noticed one of our vehicles gas tank door was opened, we park in our
driveway.

Suspicious Group Knocking On Doors On West Laurelhurst Drive NE

 A Webster Point neighbor reported this information:

This morning at 10:30, a neighbor on West Laurelhurst NE experienced a woman pounding continually on her door. The woman was with 2 men who also, later, pounded on the neighbor's  door. 

The home owner went to the door, and looked through the glass. When the woman and two men saw the neighbor they left .  As they were walking up the street, the home owner opened the door and asked what they wanted and they said they were looking for a car but did not know the address. The  neighbor saw that the group had come in a car without a license plate.   

November Crime Activity Report

Below is the neighborhood November crime activity report.

The Neighborhood Private Security Patrol activity report was not provided by the Laurelhurst Community Club.




11/1 1:05am 4100 block of 42nd Avenue NE
THEFT


11/1 7am 4700 block of 49th Avenue NE
BURGLARY and CAR THEFT

11/1 7:33am 4500 block of 51st Avenue NE
CAR THEFT


11/1 2:19pm 4700 block of 49th Avenue NE
BURGLARY


11/2 5:41am 3800 block of 51st Avenue NE
ASSAULT


11/5 6:18am 3800 block of NE 45th Street
BURGLARY


11/5 9:13am 3800 block of NE 45th Street
BURGLARY


11/6 12:22pm 4800 block of 38th Avenue NE
CAR THEFT


11/6 2:25pm 4800 block of 38th Avenue NE
CAR THEFT


11/10 8:53am 4100 block of 43rd Avenue NE
BEHAVIOUR HEALTH.CRISIS COMPLAINT


11/10 11:30am 4700 block of 47th Avenue NE
THEFT OF CAR PARTS


11/16 3pm 4700 block of 49th Avenue NE
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT


11/25 8:28pm 5200 block of 50th Avenue NE
ASSAULT


11/29 8:42pm 5000 block of NE 41st Street
BURGLARY


A report was also received during November from a neighbor who was driving up the Northeast 41st Street hill, away from the Laurelhurst Beach club. The neighbor encountered a male and female driving a white SUV going at least 30 mph up the hill who passed the neighbor's car who reported that he almost crashed his car into a parked vehicle. The male driver of the SUV proceeded to run the stop sign at the four way intersection maintaining the same amount of speed. 

Another neighbor reported their car stolen from their driveway on the 4500 block of 51st. Avenue NE on Halloween night.

Keep An Eye Out For These Two Vehicles Allegedly Involved In Multiple Break-Ins

A neighbor provided this video of two cars that have been seen in Laurelhurst Wedgwood, Hawthorne Hills, Matthews Beach trying to break info multiple homes as well as a storage container.  A neighbor also reported that they may be working together in coordinating the break-ins and removing items.

It was also reported that the cars may also have been seen near a site in Laurelhurst where a Laurel hedge was driven over and severely damaged. 

Have You Seen A Small Silver SUV Involved In Hit and Run?

 

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

We are reporting a hit and run that happened on Monday about 7:45pm. The car was heading northbound on 48th Avenue NE and then turned left (or west) onto NE 45th Street.

The car that hit several others is a silver SUV, of a hatchback design. It is believed that it could be a Subaru. The car hit 2 cars, including a white Audi sedan.

The cars that were damaged were parked about a block away from each other. One car, the Audi, has major damage on the passenger side.

The information has been reported to Seattle Police. Please report anything to them if you see the car of have additional information.

47th Avenue NE Speeding Monitored By SPD

The Laurelhurst Blog recently posted about excessive speeding on 47th Avenue NE that runs on the back side of Laurelhurst Elementary School.

Neighbors report that drivers often reach speeds of 40 to 50 mph.  The existing traffic circle near the school and Sun Park has not been effective in slowing drivers. 

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) recently published in its monthly newsletter that neighbors from the 4700 block of 47th Avenue NE met with District 4 Councilmember Pedersen in mid February about the very  consistent high rates of speed on 47th Avenue NE between Sand Point Way and NE 45th Street.  

Neighbors added that Councilmember Pedersen was very responsive and contacted SDOT to address these concerns. 

On Monday of last week a speed radar machine suddenly appeared on the corner of 47th Avenue NE and NE 50th Street. Then by Friday morning it was gone.

The Laurelhurst Blog contacted Councilmember Pedersen regarding the radar machine.

He said: 

I asked our Seattle Police Department to place that speed trailer there and they had motorcycle patrol there as well, as a follow up to requests from 47th Avenue NE constituents. It is common for some speed trailers to be placed temporarily unless they are on a major city arterial such as 15^th Ave NE or Highway 99.  It’s likely SPD had to use the trailer elsewhere for a hot spot during Memorial Day weekend. 

I also asked SDOT for several other, more sustainable solutions to calming traffic on 47^th Avenue NE between Laurelhurst Elementary and Sand Point Way. 

Here’s where I left it with SDOT very recently: 1) SDOT will remark the crosswalks at 47^th and 47^th this spring 2) SDOT will re-stripe the diagonal lines on 47th Ave at 47th Street, just north of the elementary school 3) SDOT will also replace the crosswalk sign on the west side of the crosswalk for southbound traffic as it appears to be missing 4) SDOT is scheduled to begin work on speed limit changes [down from 30 MPH in that area in the Fall of 2020. Ideally the speed limit signs are posted BEFORE Sept 1, before the elementary school is back in session.

Neighbors also reported an unmarked police car on 47th Avenue NE with a hand held speed radar stationed for several days at different hours recently.

LCC told the Laurelhust Blog:

We have worked on that stretch for years.  We even submitted a street fund grant for improvements a few years ago.  We were not part of the meeting with Peterson or behind the speed sign.

One neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog that he "was thrilled to see the radar guns out and thanked the officer stationed near my driveway."

Also Councilmember Pedersen said he submitted a request to have the sign on 47^th Avenue NE at NE 50^th Street repaired that he noticed on a recent drive-through in the neighborhood.

Alex can be reached at alex.pedersen@seattle.gov.

(photos courtesy of Streetsmart.com and Alex Pedersen)

April Neighborhood Crime Activity Report

There were no crimes listed on the Seattle Police Department report for the month of April for Laurelhurst.

The Neighborhood Private Security Patrol activity report (subscribe here) was not provided by the Laurelhurst Community Club.

Here are incidents that neighbors reported:

• Teenagers speeding throughout the neighborhood - especially through the NE 41st Street intersection and the park entrance and down the steep hill, also known as "Suicide Hill," towards 5-corners at Mary Gates Drive, Sand Point Way, endangering other drivers, bikers and pedestrians, including young children. Neighbors report speeders driving in excess of 50mph down the hill. 
• Car Prowler on 51st Avenue NE
• Suspicious person driving a maroon Volvo station wagon and wandering around and sometimes sitting on the basketball court on the lake (35th Avenue NE and NE 43rd Street)
• Aggressive man yelling and swearing and adults and children while walking up and down NE 41st Street
• Bike stolen from house on Ivanhoe

The Seattle Police Department published this information on their monthly Blog:

With so many businesses temporarily closed, Seattle has seen upticks in burglaries—mostly at businesses—in some neighborhoods. But Seattle police continue to investigate these crimes and have made a number of arrests for burglary and theft. Here are some ways to make your business a less appealing target for thieves. 

Police have also seen an increase in car thefts during the stay-at-home order. With hundreds of thousands of Seattle residents keeping close to home, and the City suspending 72-hour parking restrictions in many residential areas, vehicle owners are going days without realizing their car has been stolen. Our Auto Theft Unit would greatly appreciate it if you’d go, right now, and check on your car. If it’s not where you left it, call 911. If it’s still there, great. Be sure to check on it again soon. 

We encourage everyone to use the following tips every night at 9 PM (or appropriate time before you head to bed) to minimize your risk: - Bring valuables inside - Lock vehicles and park in a well-lit area - Close and lock your garage door - Check and lock all windows and doors - Turn on outside lights

For more information go here.

Disturbing Graffiti On Cars - Update

On April 10, the Laurelhurst Blog reported about disturbing graffiti near the Laurelhurst Beach Club.

A neighbor told the Laurelhurst Blog at the time: 

Horrible to see this awful stuff at the Beach Club on a parked car and against the Beach Club fence. So mad and disappointed. We need to find these folks if we can. It’s awful.  The car that was tagged is a new neighbors’ car.  It was reported that the Police responded.

It was reported that a house in the area was broken into around 3am and the alarm went off and the folks ran away. 

Another neighbor recently told the Laurelhurst Blog:

These are very young guys (a clique) from the neighborhood who do the same vandalism and damages to the cars,making scratches, break-ins all over and more. 

We observed one on the Boulevard in the last couple of years and he even may live in the area, riding a medium size bike. He has a very loose unpolished street behavior.  Perhaps work part time at QFC.  The group is extremely fast and very damaging.  We attribute lot of these looting activities to these guys and have contacted QFC and alerted the manager. 

Neighbor Reports Drunken Neighborhood Party

The Laurelhurst Blog Staff received this email from a neighbor:

On Friday night, April 24, some people toward the middle or north end of the long block on 44th Avenue NE between NE 41st Street and NE 38th Street apparently decided to “socially distance” by drinking and talking and listening to music in front of their house. 

At 3 a.m. the party was going strong, loud and louder in the way of drunks: “There’s no fucking place I’d rather be!” etc. etc. Even with double pane windows shut and many houses away from the revelry, the noise could be heard.

City Noise ordinance states:

• Sunday through Thursday: No noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Fridays and Saturdays: Quiet between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

The full description of SMC 25.08.425 and Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.225 state" 

Construction and Maintenance noises cannot occur before 9 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and must end by 10 p.m. 

"Residential disturbance" means a gathering of more than one (1) person at a residential property located in a single family or multifamily zone, as defined SMC Section 23.84.048 between the hours of 10:00 P.M., (11:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday nights) and 7:00 A.M., at which noise associated with the gathering is frequent, repetitive or continuous and is audible to a person of normal hearing at a distance of seventy-five (75) feet or more from the property. 

Penalties: Officers may issue a civil infraction (citation) on the spot. The fine for the infraction is $250. A person who continues to be in violation of this ordinance after receiving an infraction or who again violates this ordinance within 24 hours of receiving an infraction, can be charged with a crime. If found guilty, a judge may impose a maximum sentence of up to 180 days incarceration in jail, and/or a fine up to $500.

For more information go here. 

Neighbor Reports Fire Extinguishers Stashed in Bushes

The Laurelhurst Blog received this informationl

Last month several fire extinguishers (14 total) and bottles of alcohol were discovered “stashed” in shrubbery surrounding the Laurelhurst Triangle mini park at the intersection of East Laurelhurst Drive and the 3300 block of 46th Avenue NE. 

The fire extinguishers were removed by Western Fire and Safety.  A former high school teacher mentioned that kids will sometimes play games shooting fire extinguishers at each other.

SPD's Halloween Safety Tips

The Seattle Police Department offers these safety tips for tomorrow's trick or treaters:

Halloween Safety Tips

FOR MOTORISTS & BICYCLISTS:

• Stay alert for increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic on Halloween night.
• Be patient and SLOW DOWN! Give children lots of time to cross the street. Costumes can impair their ability to see and hear you and to get out of the way quickly. It also may be difficult for young children to cross a street quickly and they may not see potential traffic threats, or anticipate driver behavior.
• Excited kids may forget to “stop, look and listen” before crossing the street. Since they may be trying to visit as many houses as possible in a short period of time, children could quickly dart in front of your car.
• Be extra cautious in areas where vehicles are parked along the side of the street. Trick-or-treaters may dart into traffic from between parked cars.
  Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Also watch for children walking on medians and curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.

FOR PARENTS and CAREGIVERS:

• Trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights or “glow sticks.”
• Dress children in costumes that are light-colored and clearly visible to motorists.
• Use face paints or make-up rather than masks that could impair vision.
  Wear light-colored clothing or add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
• Small children should be accompanied by adults.
• Older children should stay in groups.
• Make sure props such as swords, scythes, pitchforks, spears, wands or knives are flexible (not rigid) with smooth or rounded tips to prevent eye or other injuries if fallen on.
• If driving children to trick-or-treat, make sure they exit the vehicle on the curb side and not the traffic side.
• Instruct your children not to eat any candy until they bring it home and you examine it thoroughly. Inspect commercially wrapped candy for tampering (unusual appearance, discoloration, tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers). Discard anything suspicious. Throw out homemade treats.
  Secure identification (name, address phone number) on or within a child’s costume.
• Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they become lost or have an emergency. (9-1-1 service can be dialed free from any phone).

FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS:

• Don’t assume the right of way when crossing a street. Motorists may have trouble seeing you. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean they all will.
• Be very cautious of strangers. A stranger is someone you don’t know who behaves in an inappropriate way. Adults asking children for help can be potentially dangerous.
• Trick-or-treaters should only visit houses that have porch lights turned on.
• Never enter a stranger’s house or vehicle.
• Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Don’t run! Always walk when crossing streets or going from house to house.
• Cross streets only at corners and crosswalks. Never cross the street from between parked cars.
• Remove mask or any item restricting eyesight before crossing streets.
  Don’t take shortcuts through back alleys or parking lots.
• Look “left, right, left again” for cars before stepping off the curb to cross a street.
• Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know.
• Don’t eat any treats until you get home.
• Have an adult check all candy before eating it.
• Stay focused on your surroundings. If you feel threatened, go to the nearest store or restaurant and ask to use the phone. Call parents or the police.

FOR HOMEOWNERS:

• Turn on your porch light. Provide ample outdoor lighting.
• Eliminate tripping hazards on your porch, yard, and walkway. (Flower pots, lawn furniture, lawn decorations, bicycles, children’s toys, ladders, garden hoses, dog leashes, support wires, low tree limbs).
• Pets can be frightened by Halloween activities. Restrain or bring them indoors to protect them from cars or accidentally hurting trick-or-treaters.

Neighborhood Businesses Burglarized

The Laurelhurst Center complex (3700 block of NE 45th Street), which includes Ravenna Homeopathic, the Wax Bar, the Frame Shop and Jaks, were reportedly burglarized in the early morning of August 6th.

The property manager reported that the burglaries happened between 2am and 3:30am. All businesses were reportedly re-keyed after the burglary. 

Ravenna Homeopathic told the Laurelhurst Blog:

The burglary took place in the middle of the night. Security cameras showed a man breaking into one of the businesses.  He had a baseball cap pulled low on his face, gloves and pulled up a mask as he went by the camera. We have no information to identify them.

The Frame Shop told the Laurelhurst Blog that they had minimal loss and no damage. And added "It was more of an annoyance."

And another of the business owners told the Laurelhurst Blog staff, "I hope these guys are caught soon. We are so tired of this madness."

Prowlers Around Webster Point

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information from a neighbor:

Be aware that there have been a variety of prowls in the neighborhood recently. 

Several homeowners reported that their security or doorbell cameras took photos of two different prowlers on the Webster Point circle on the evening of July 18th.  

Another neighbor reported a break-in inside her carport. The prowlers were photographed between 4:30 am and 4:50 am.  

These prowls are in addition to the package which was reported stolen recently on East Laurelhurst Drive NE.  

Vandalism has also been noticed in the area; street signs at 30th Avenue NE  and West Laurelhurst Drive NE were destroyed.  

There may have been additional prowls in the neighborhood as well.  

If you have doorbell or security cameras, please check your feeds for signs of the culprits.  

Please also call Seattle Police non-emergency line at 206 684-0850

May Neighborhood Crime Report

Below is the Seattle Police reports for May crime activity in the neighborhood.

The Neighborhood Private Security Patrol activity report (subscribe here) was not provided by the Laurelhurst Community Club for May.

5/4 10:21pm 4400 block of 38th Avenue NE
PROPERTY DAMAGE

5/22 7am 3700 block of 41st Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS PERSON

5/23 6:30am Surber Drive NE/ NE Belvoir Place
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE

Items Thrown Off Of Elementary School Roof

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

Last weekend, a number of items were thrown from the roof of Laurelhurst Elementary School, above the gymnasium doors on the 4500 block of 47th Avenue NE, out into traffic and our yard.  A passing car’s windshield and one of our windows were broken.  

Last night, May 30, a Razor scooter was thrown into traffic and a rock nearly hit my daughter who was sitting outside. My daughter had heard talking before the items were thrown and said it sounded like two boys.  

There has also been damage done to the roof of the school as a number of the drain guards were pulled off and thrown out into the playground.  

If anyone sees kids on the roof of the school, please notify the police immediately.

Two weeks ago, there was a similar report of boys throwing a baseball off a window damaging a passing car's windshield:

We were driving down 46th Avenue NE, in front of the entrance to Laurelhurst gym when our windshield was hit by a baseball thrown from the roof of the entrance.  

It scared us to death and I almost lost control of my vehicle. The kid who did this does not know how dangerous it was.  

My windshield has to be replaced. The scary part was that our sun roof was open and the ball could have struck my husband in the head.  

If anyone has any information about this count your please contact Jamie or Diana at 206-524-5680.  

We will offer a reward for information that leads to the guilty person.  I have reported this information to the police.

If you have information on either of these incidents, contact the Police and Seattle Public Schools Security at 206-252-0707.

Suspicious Male And Female Knocking on Doors Between 2-4am

photo of male 

knocking on doors late at night




Several residents have reported that a couple have recently been knocking on doors around 3am. The male wears a Brixton hood and the woman has a red coat on.

One neighbor, who lives on the 3600 block of 42nd Avenue NE, told the Laurelhurst Blog:

A man and a woman came to our home at 3am and rang our doorbell. We were out of town but my ring camera caught them. They were just spotted on another ring camera at 3am at two of my neighbors.  

They have hit 3 houses near me. I also found out that they shop regularly at the 76 station for cigarettes.  

One of the neighbors called 911 and the police came about 45 minutes later and they were gone. I have reported this to the Laurelhurst Security Patrol.

Other neighbors have reported the same couple in the 3000 block of 43rd Avenue NE, wearing the same jackets as previously reported. Reportedly the two people asked to use the phone to get back to Madison Park. A taxi was called and they left. 

Another resident on the Boulevard reported the same couple knocking around 2:45am needing to get home to Madison Park and wanting to use the phone. 

In the 3100 block of East Laurelhurst Drive, there were a few reports of the same people knocking on several doors between 2-3:30am. The same woman in the red coat appeared to be intoxicated and had trouble walking. They were also looking to get back to Madison Park.

Kids Climbing On Snow Covered Cars

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

On Saturday, a group of what looked like older high schoolers or young adults,  about 17-24ish years old by guess in the dark at a distance, dressed in snow gear, were moseying down NE 45th Street across from the south side of Children’s Hospital.  

They were climbing on and over as well as dancing on, snowy cars, as their friends videoed.   

It didn't appear as if they were  vandalizing anything.   But it didn’t seem like normal activity.

Possible Abandoned Yellow Truck?

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information:

An old yellow truck, with expired California plates hasn’t moved from my street on the 3800 block of 42nd Avenue NE, in almost a week.  

Could you put out a post? I wonder if it has been abandoned. I reported it to Parking Enforcement.  

If it does belong to someone, they will realize that it has been spotted, can still move it and keep it from getting towed.

June Neighborhood Crime Reports - Private Security Patrol and Seattle Police Department

Below are two separate reports for June crime activity in the neighborhood.

The first is the Neighborhood Private Security Patrol activity report (subscribe here) provided by the Laurelhurst Community Club.

The second is the Seattle Police Department crime report for Laurelhurst.


Laurelhurst Private Security Patrol Report:
LCC Crime Prevention Board Member hasn't submitted a report for the month 

Neighborhood Seattle Police Department Report

6/5    3:14am  4500 block of 52nd Avenue NE
FRAUD CALL - THEFT

6/6    2:53pm   3800 block of 43rd Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

6/10  11:03pm  11:03pm   3400 block of West Laurelhurst Drive
VANDALISM

6/12   7:41pm  4500 block of 46th Avenue NE
MISSING PERSON

6/20   4:59pm 4500 block of NE 41st Street
DISTURBANCE

6/23   1:33am 3800 block of 42nd Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

6/30  6:35am   4700 block of 48th Avenue NE
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

6/30   2:06pm    3400 block of East Laurelhurst Drive
AUTO THEFT