There have been a few vehicle break-ins lately as well as a suspicious car driving around the neighborhood.

Neighbor Rosie wrote to send a video of two men burglarizing her husband’s work van. She says,

“This happened early Saturday (Jan 26th) at 5:40 a.m. We got the footage from our security camera and have given it to the police but are hoping that the neighborhood community could also keep an eye out. We believe they backed up to the van and loaded everything into the back or bed of a truck. We have multiple shots from a 20 minute period of time where they came and surveyed the van, somehow got in, and eventually made off with lot of plumbing tools. This robbery took place on North Beacon Hill at the cross streets of 13th Ave and So Hill St. Any help or assistance in any way would be much appreciated. My email address is rak711@hotmail.com.”

Here is the video.

Another neighbor, Jessica, writes:

“Seems as if there have been some car break-ins around the 39XX block of 14th Ave S.

“My car was broken into and stuff was tossed around and the only thing they actually took was a book of 10 year old CD’s that were in my trunk. My husband and neighbor both got their cars broken into about a week later (this week) nothing appears to have been taken but things were tossed around significantly. Another neighbor said he noticed a later model silver Volvo in the area and the passengers of the vehicle sped off when they saw him as he was going to work in the early morning.”

It’s funny that she mentions a silver car, because folks on the Beacon Hill mailing list last week were discussing suspicious activity by a silver 4-door sedan. According to one neighbor, the car was driving between Orcas and Lucille on the west side of Beacon Avenue, “moving slowly through the streets and making multiple passes.” He spoke with the car’s occupants, and the driver claimed to be a teacher from a driving school on Beacon Hill. However, apparently the car is not one used by the driving school, and the driver does not work there.

Neighbors on the Beacon Hill mailing list have been warning about recent criminal activity in the neighborhood.

First, neighbor Heather posted:

“Friday night at around 4 a.m. my friend witnessed a car being broken into from his window. He called the police and was on the phone with them as they were pulling up, but the guy got away. Apparently, his method of choice was to break in, leave the car door open slightly and leave the car until the unknown car owner maybe looks out and doesn’t see anything so they turn their car alarm off. Once they turn it off the guy comes back and takes what he wants. Pretty clever idea. Moral of the story, don’t assume it is wind if your car alarm goes off and you don’t see anyone. He will be back. This happened on 16th Avenue South.”

Then neighbor Krizten reported:

“My neighbor’s house got robbed today (Tuesday) between 9-11am this morning. She lives above the greenbelt as you come up Holgate from the west. The police believed the burglar(s) came up thru the greenbelt. They smashed a window on that backside of the house and ransacked her bedroom mainly, stealing a jewelry box, walkman and various other small objects.

“This is the second time she’s been broken into this year… A pretty similar burglary happened to another neighbor about 8 doors north of her about 2 weeks ago.

“I believe it also happened between similar hours and the items stolen were similar and included her work laptop. She believes someone was actually watching to see when she left.”

Crimes are only one of the topics discussed on the neighborhood mailing list. Other topics have included missing chickens, recommendations for child care, snow removal, and the quality of Beacon Hill broadband. To join the mailing list, go here.