The B-Town (Burien) Blog | Named "Best Hyperlocal Website" in the Northwest by Society of Professional Journalists » thief

Purse Snatcher Hits Tin Theater Again, Gets Around $200; Reward Offered

Scott Schaefer — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:25:22 +0000

Olde Burien’s Tin Theater (BTB Advertiser), located next to the Tin Room Bar, was the victim of theft again on Thursday (Oct. 28th) apparently by the same purse snatcher who struck Oct. 14th, this time making off with “around $200″ from a purse and bank bag.

According to proprietor Dan House:

He returned and did the same, this time pushing in our “Cashier” window and taking our server’s purse and a bank bag.

This was done around 5:30pm Thursday (Oct. 28th), and he was wearing just about the same clothes – a bulky, striped shirt to hide the goods like the last time.

He came in the theater side, ducked under the red velvet rope, walked back and in about two minutes came back out with the goods stuffed under his shirt.

As before, we got it on tape, and the police have been notified.

It seems that he does not care about time of day, as we had around 20 people in the theater and if they came out they would have bumped right into him; we were all here.

Reward stays the same – $300, with $200 cash and $100 on a Tin Room gift card.

“People should look for this thief strolling the streets,” House added. “This guy’s M.O. appears to be to walk into an open establishment, snatch something, stuff it under his shirt then casually leave. Everyone should look for a guy walking around town with a stuffed shirt…”

Here are pics (courtesy a security cam by BTB Advertiser Freedom Systems) from the Oct. 14th purse snatching incident, when the suspect stole Chirlee’s purse (Chirlee is Dan’s Mom, and she just turned 75):

The suspect is described as an African-American male, standing 5’9″ to 6’2″ and weighing around 185lbs.

Burien Police are on the case already, and are asking that if anyone recognizes the suspect in the photos, to please call them immediately at (206) 296-3311.

LOST: “Jack” (aka “Pumpkinhead”) Has Been Stolen!

Scott Schaefer — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:01:09 +0000

From BTB Reader Ian Gunsul comes this shocking news about a recent theft in the 15700 block of 23rd Ave SW in Burien:

Subject: Jack snatched!!!

Message: Or “Pumpkinhead” as Shawn Underwood dubbed him: Jack has resided in front of our house off and on for a couple of years, becoming a neighborhood celebrity while waving a friendly hello to all passers by.

This year someone of obvious Gaelic bloodlines dressed him up for St. Paddy’s day, so we dressed him up for Easter – some nice person even came by and put bunny ears on him.

But alas, someone(s) couldn’t resist temptation and kidnapped Jack and his giant pinwheel sometime between late yesterday evening and lunch time today.

If you have him, bring him back no questions asked.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, leave it in the comments section.

We got to get Jack back!

Seen “Jack” (or “Pumpkinhead”)? Leave a Comment below…

WANTED: “Grandpa” Robber With Lots Of Coins In Pockets

scottso — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:05:37 +0000

According to KOMO News, the King County Sheriffs Office is seeking an elderly, grandfatherly vending machine robber (pictured above) who has been stealing from Coca Cola machines in SeaTac.

Authorities say that since last June, the “Coin-Op Robbing Grandpop” has stolen several thousand dollars from various machines at the Doubletree Hotel, located at 18740 International Blvd.

Apparently the suspect is so adept at breaking into the machines that he’s able to do so without damaging them; he then takes the cash from the inner coin box and the only way the robbery is discovered is when technicians open the machine (EDITOR’S NOTE: Perhaps he has experience with these machines?).

Police describe him as 60 to 70 years old, with glasses and dressed in a nice shirt, tie and overcoat – your typical Grandpa-type, only the kind who always has lots of coins in his pockets (“Hey Gramps, can we go to the Family Fun Center again?”).

The photo above was taken by a surveillance camera from one of the machines, so if you recognize him, you are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office in SeaTac at (206) 973-4900.

Catalytic Convertor Cut Off Truck At Burien Park & Ride

scottso — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:38:15 +0000

We found this interesting piece of news on the Three Tree Point Yahoo Group â€“ on July 9th, a rather bold thief (thieves?) crawled under a truck belonging to resident (and BTB Photog) Ethan Janson and cut out the catalytic convertor:

Today, someone took a hack saw to the undercarriage of my Toyota Tacoma at the Burien Transit Center.

My truck is LOUD as hell now because I am now missing a large chunk of pipe leading to my muffler, and probably the catalytic converter… and I thought riding the bus was a cheaper option, geez.

From what I can tell, the converters have precious metals which can be scrapped for $$$.

- Ethan Janson

The next day (July 10th), Ethan wrote this followup:

Apparently, stolen catalytic converters are reaching epidemic proportions.

I just heard a good tip…etch your contact info into the converter so that the thieves have a harder time scrapping it.

I recommend avoiding the Park and Ride if you have a high clearance vehicle with easy access to the undercarriage.

Now, just six to eight more months of riding the bus so I can break even.

Anyone else out there in B-Town have similar experiences?

Email us or post a Comment below…

Burien Dentist Faces Year In Jail For Theft Ring

scottso — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:24:55 +0000

BURIEN – Richard Calvo, a Burien dentist, faces up to a year in jail after pleading guilty today along with two others in what police say was a massive theft ring that employed homeless and drug addicts throughout Seattle.

The three family members were accused of paying drug addicts to shoplift glass art, Armani suits and other high-end goods from local stores in Seattle.

They fenced the stolen merchandise at the well-known Liberty Jewelry and Loan pawnshop at 116 Pike Street, according to prosecutors.

Leslie Calvo, 39, who ran the shop owned by her father, pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property, two counts of possession of stolen property and two other theft-related crimes.

She faces between 4 1/2 and nearly six years in prison at the sentencing for all three defendants June 13.

Her 71-year-old father, Martin D. Levy, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree trafficking in stolen property, two counts of possession of stolen property and one count of second-degree solicitation to commit theft. He faces two to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Calvo’s husband, Richard, 38, who has a Burien dental practice and pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree trafficking and one count of first-degree possession of stolen property, faces up to a year in jail.

Leslie Calvo and her father originally faced charges such as leading organized crime and money laundering, which would have carried stiffer penalties, said her attorney, Allen Ressler.

Prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s Office would only accept the deal if all three pleaded guilty, and Leslie Calvo didn’t want to expose herself or her elderly father to additional prison time, Ressler said.

“She accepted the most responsibility and to some extent what motivates her is the desire to see this whole thing resolved, and the concern about going to trial and losing on the more serious offense,” he said.

The three are accused of selling glass pieces stolen from art galleries, shoplifted Coach purses, a $500 bananawood soap dish and other luxuries from Levy’s pawnshop. They also unloaded more than $300,000 worth of goods on eBay and kept some merchandise for themselves.

Investigators said the three used a group of street drug addicts who were willing to walk into a store or gallery, shoplift the goods and deliver them to the pawnshop — often with the price tags still intact.

The thieves were often given 10 percent of the retail value for each item and used it to support their drug habits, police said.

Police began investigating in March 2004 when they were tipped about a major fencing operation involving the pawnshop. One informant later told police he had been delivering stolen items to the store since 1988.

In July 2005, police searched Levy’s Mercer Island home, his pawnshop, and the Calvos’ West Seattle home and found hundreds of stolen items, including more than 300 glass-art pieces, golf clubs and electronic devices.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: You know in the Google Map below where it says "1 Review"? We happened to follow that link, where we found the following "review":

DANGEROUS DENTIST!!Â Â

By Anonymous

Dr. Calvo is in practice w/ his father and sister. Although the rest of the family might be on the up-and-up, he is NOT! I think he is on drugs, one time in his chair was way too many. Face it you are placing your life in his hands and there are enough honest dentists out there. Dr. Calvo is currently facing 32 Felony charges, do your homework and get a reliable dentist! I personally FIRED Dr Calvo and now go to a dentist miles away!]

SOURCE:

The Seattle P-I

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Strange Ad O’The Day: “Don’t Post How Stupid She Is” & Angry Message To Burien Thief

scottso — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:15:13 +0000

Found on seattle-tacoma craigslist > tacoma > rants & raves:

My wife was visiting her dad up in burien at the hospital. She stupidly left her keys in the truck along with a $2000 camara and her cell phone. Please dont post how stupid she is, she doesnt read this and i already KNOW how stupid she was.

Anyway she calls me up and says somebody broke into the truck and stole her keys, camara ect And a bill with our address on it.

Now i was not always the dogooder i am today so i know how these aholes think. I closed up the blinds and went about my business.

About an hour later i was sitting in the office and i see someone come up to the door. Nothing unusuall about that but i wait and see anyway. Sure enough, after i dont answer he pops the key into the door and opens it. I give him a couple of seconds to get in then i spring from my chair and grab him and put my ball point pen up to his neck and tell him dont f*@king move or i am gonna stab you. (this is where i made my mistake. I should have just f*@king stabbed him and been done with it. I urge anybody in the same situation to not threaten but just to do it.

Anyway he wriggled out of my grasp (i only had ahold of his coat) and got away. I am too fat to chase his skinny ass down.

At least i got a cheap costco coat for my trouble. No ID inside just a couple of starbucks giftcards and a key chain with one key. The keychain is a little tiny level.

If you know someone with a black costco coat and a keychain made out of a tiny level let me know. I would like to return them to him

Email: pers-615280052@craigslist.org

Strange Ad O’The Day: Message To Car Thief About Child Seats

scottso — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:39:23 +0000

Found on seattle-tacoma craigslist > seattle > rants & raves:

When you stole my wifes 94 dodge 4 door with an empty gas tank and the locking gas cap this morning you thought you were stylin, you could have left the grandchildrens car seats, the car is a piece of sh*t but she cant haul the grandkids around without car seats and i am sure that you had 2 small children with you at 2 am so you needed the seats worse than she does, if i were stealing cars i would be sure to steal 1 with a custom plate licence # HEDAKE so if anybody sees a white 4 door 1994 dodge spirit dent drivers rear door cheap mags plate HEDAKE please email me would like the car seats back

email: pers-615296853@craigslist.org