WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: ATM theft attempt

9:31 AM: Thanks for the tip. That was the scene at WaFd Bank in the 4100 block of California around 7:30 this morning. About an hour and a half earlier, just after 6 am, a 911 caller reported seeing a silver BMW “attached to the ATM,” trying to pull it out, and then seeing it head off eastbound, according to dispatch audio. We haven’t talked to the bank yet so we don’t know what if anything the thieves got away with.

10:35 AM: We just went back to the bank (which is open) to follow up. The worker there to repair the ATM told us the thieves didn’t get away with anything – that they don’t seem to realize how well-protected the cash-containing part of the ATM is.

Brian December 5, 2023 (10:46 am)

Cool, just add it to the pile. The ATM at Thriftway still has police tape around it from a month ago.

brenda December 5, 2023 (10:47 am)

Been in seattle 80 years, and never saw crime like this.

Ryan December 5, 2023 (11:46 am)

As economic conditions continue to worsen, we will only continue to see a rise in crimes committed for the purpose of getting money.
- Mike December 5, 2023 (11:56 am)
  
  These crimes are not related to financial hardship. These criminals are people who feel no remorse and are entitled beyond words. Millions of immigrants from far worse economic conditions and legitimate oppression come to the USA and never commit a crime.
  - J December 6, 2023 (12:54 pm)
    
    TikTok challengers and idea sharing spreads the criminal ideas. While in-government and out-of-government adults dilly-dally and lack a seriousness to solve real problems for teens and 20-somethings (like climate worries, student debt worries, racism worries and more) a hopelessness + “cool” TikTok ideas will lead to very bad behavior. Not to mention the issue / worries about guns. Not sure what TikTok is? It’s past time to learn about it.
- Brian December 5, 2023 (12:04 pm)
  
  Material conditions. I keep saying it.
- John December 5, 2023 (1:35 pm)
  
  Ryan: 3.2% inflation, 3.9% unemployment, 3rd quarter gdp of ww2 5.2%, most new businesses started in 2023 since census bureau started keeping track in 2006, highest spending every this past Thanksgiving and Americans continue to spend. Doesn’t sound like a worsening economy.
  - Informed Opinion December 5, 2023 (2:06 pm)
    
    https://www.cbpp.org/research/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequality
  - k December 5, 2023 (2:22 pm)
    
    Those numbers don’t show the growing disparity between the rich and the poor.
  - Brian December 5, 2023 (3:05 pm)
    
    Funny thing is that people experiencing poverty don’t really care about the numbers you just posted. Because it’s not real to them, but their material conditions are very real and motivate their behaviors.
- Anne December 5, 2023 (2:37 pm)
  
  Of course it’s “ to get money” -you kind of intimate its to get money to live on–food, clothes etc. If that’s your thought- I’d say think again.
- Robert December 5, 2023 (10:31 pm)
  
  Most poor people don’t commit crime. Being poor doesn’t excuse crime.
- Byron James December 6, 2023 (11:51 am)
  
  In 1935, in the midst of the Great Depression, the crime rate fell and continued to fall for years.In the early’60’s, when the economy was booming, crime rose.

Seaguy December 5, 2023 (11:18 am)

Brazen with all the cameras. But they know there are so few SPD that they won’t get caught.

Jeff December 5, 2023 (11:52 am)

Crime is never going away unless you fix economic issues as Ryan said above…

HP December 5, 2023 (4:21 pm)

Economic issues? We have homeless people who are honest and wonderful people. They would never steal. Are we supposed to think that the guys with the BMW are in a more difficult economic situation? There are so many job openings in our area, but of course you wouldn’t be able to buy a BMW with the salary. In this case the criminals need money to support lifestyle choices. They need to upgrade to a Ferrari otherwise they will be the laughing stock of the criminal world.
- sixbuck December 5, 2023 (9:35 pm)
  
  Do you really think those thieves owned that BMW? SMH…so ignorant.
  - Lisa December 6, 2023 (10:58 pm)
    
    Exactly, sixbuck!!!
CarDriver December 5, 2023 (7:27 pm)

Jeff. What kind of economic issues are there? Boeing/post office/Safeway/QFC all sorts of mid size and small companies are looking for help. You’d be hard pressed to find a restaurant that isn’t looking for help. You going to tell me stealing pays more money so that’s why they do it?
- Rick December 6, 2023 (7:43 am)
  
  I’d be willing to bet the criminals don’t report or pay taxes on their “income”. Pretty sure I’d win that bet but I think I’ll take a pass since the effort and time involved to report and pay the taxes on my winnings wouldn’t be worth that effort. I don’t think anyone would take me up on that bet anyway.
Wseattleite December 5, 2023 (11:59 pm)

Jeff, delusional. Crime is never going away as long as people find it fine to take what is not theirs. How nice those empires clothes are! Keep on blaming everything but criminals if you must.

Dereck December 5, 2023 (2:08 pm)

So I noticed this last month. Sent it in to west seattle blog. Couldnt find a thing.

WSB December 5, 2023 (3:09 pm)

Have no idea when that happened, looked for a police report, couldn’t find one.
- Eddie December 6, 2023 (8:05 am)
  
  Saw a crew installing the blue barriers in the past week or so. At the time (middle of a weekday) I wondered if they were brazenly stealing the ATM, but I put 2 and 2 together when I saw the barrier pieces to be installed.

Jing December 5, 2023 (6:31 pm)

IMHO the lack of Law enforcement and low morale is well known in King County by response times. Teenagers know they have great odds of getting away with stealing. Many of these youngsters still live at home. It’s the thrill of getting away with it. I know because I was a teen age shoplifter. It’s just plain fun. The money is splurged on beer, more electronics, dope and girlfriends. If they get caught, the system gives them a slap on the hands and then released.