SPD busts burglary suspects as Sheriff chopper helps foil roof to roof getaway

Screen Shot 2013-11-01 at 10.35.08 PMSeattle Police with the assistance of a K9 unit and King County Sheriff’s Guardian 1 helicopter pursued one burglary suspect who attempted a roof to roof escape after a caller reported a break-in underway in the 400 block of 21st Ave.

Just after 9 PM a 911 caller reported the sound of breaking glass at a 21st Ave house. Police responded and began chasing suspects through the area.

One suspect was taken into custody in an alley of E Alder.

Guardian 1 spotted a second suspect shortly thereafter on a roof of a nearby house.

“He’s [lying] on the roof next to the chimney,” the chopper’s unit reported via East Precinct radio.

The suspect proceeded to leap across the roof of multiple houses in the area as police on the ground pursued the man. After a warning from police, the suspect was removed from the roof and taken into custody, according to police radio.

12 thoughts on “SPD busts burglary suspects as Sheriff chopper helps foil roof to roof getaway

  1. Pingback: Blotter | Capitol Hill robbery suspects identified, CD roof-jumping burglar nabbed on video | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle

  2. Do we know anything about why that house was targeted by idiots? What are a couple of dumb guys doing breaking glass at 9pm? Was there something specific about that house?

    We don’t want people to be concerned about the possibility of random crime, if this was not a random crime. It seems more like a targetted victim situation, like maybe small time pot dealer lives there. He went out for a deliverry and some of his usual customers broke in. Or something like that.

    If it was a random – 9pm burglary – then that is a freaky deal. We should all be up in arms and patroling the streets with pick handles.

    We really need more detail on this kind of stuff. It makes a huge difference in the perception of risk. If it’s just thug on thug crime – I’m going to be leary of thugs. But if they be bustin into just anybodies house I’m gonna be all hillbilly.

  3. That’s it. After watching the story on KOMO4 about the kids who broke into our house, I’ve decided to do something positive about this by not glorifying a foiled grand escape on the rooftops of my other neighbors. I get it, it’s an interesting story but it’s not an action movie, these are all real people. Those kids aren’t faceless spidermen, they’re embarking on an adulthood of some serious hardship. I’m not forgiving their actions or choices and we consider ourselves lucky they were caught. It helps to know who they are, see their faces online, to learn about their public history through the courts. SPD and KCSOAirsupport did a stellar job, wow. I know a lot of you in the CD didn’t get that when your place was invaded or you were assaulted on the street.

    So here comes the positive part, I’m going around my neighborhood, giving neighbors I haven’t met yet my number and email and saying hey, let’s look out for each other. If you see something out of place, let’s give each other a call so we’re all aware. So go do it tomorrow, reach out, get to know a little about your neighbors, show respect for each other. We all deserve it and in my eight yeas here, I still think this is the best Seattle neighborhood I’ve been a part of.

    To answer pinebeetle, I’m not a dealer and yes, I think those kids have been tracking our particular block for awhile now that I think back on certain events I thought were a little off. I believe they made a calculated choice by picking the right spot at the right time when many of us were clearly not home, that’s all. They were looking in from the outside. They probably figured the risk was worth it. They smashed a 2×4 through our sliding glass door on the ground floor in a fairly dark and tiny back yard. It can happen anywhere and yes, it doesn’t feel so good but we were very lucky in a lot of interesting ways. Also, my neighbors rock.

    • Thank you SJS. I find it important to know the whole story so we can properly evaluate conditions in the hood. Kids smashing into homes is not just kids being kids. Stealing a candy bar or taking grandma’s car for a ride to the Burger King – that is restless kids. Casing a neighborhood and busting in to a strangers house is dangerous, violent, and a likely part of a well developed career path. It will be very difficult if not improbable for these guys to end up on a productive path. Many here will predict they will be out on the street and doing it again soon. I think we can agree on that. Are they even in jail now?

      I hope your neighbors do keep an eye out and call the police about all suspicious circumstances. I can tell you that about half of my neighbors are vigilant about reporting suspicious characters and talking amongst each other about issues. The other half seem are very positive people and wait to be absolutely sure a crime is being commited before taking a mental note. Of course they close the curtains before they see anything, so, note is never taken.

      Thank you greatly for openning up, letting us know, and for engaging in a healthy response to crime.

  4. I’m pretty sure the casing is continuing as I believe it happened to me this morning. I’m a couple blocks west on 19th Ave & Alder.

    I heard my doorbell ring twice, rapidly. I stepped outside and no one was there. After looking around I saw a guy crouched behind our recycling bins. I approached him and asked if he rang my bell. He mumbled something and I asked again. He said “no” and continued ignoring me. I asked if I could help him and he said no.

    I asked again if he rang my bell and he said he saw a mailman walk by earlier. I definitely got the sense he was lying to me. The mail was delivered later that day, and why would a mailman ring my doorbell and run off?

    I reported the incident to the SPD non-emergency line: (206) 625-5011. I’d encourage anyone else experiencing this kind of activity to report it immediately. The guy was young (late teen – early 20s), African American male, avg. build, baggy sagging jeans almost to below his knees.

    • Aaaa. That is not a non-emergency. If you so happened to have been a 13year old kid or an 90 year old person – you may have been smashed over the head, robbed, and perhaps something worse.

      What you witnessed was potentially a robbery, home invasion, burglary or something. In these instances you call 911 and report a possible burglary in progress or burglary attempt in progress.

      The police can sort out as to whether or not you are wrong. Please people – forget about the non-emergency number. That number is for reporting yourself as an idiot or something. It is not for criminal behavior in progress.

  5. gvn, I think you’re right about your assumptions now that I’ve had time to think more about what happened before our break-in. I noticed young kids opening our neighbors trash area very quietly and then leave just as quietly. I thought it was odd but was distracted by other things going on. They also came to our door weeks earlier with some weird story about wanting to be surrounded by success. (Oh yes, the lucrative life of working in the arts.) It’s a good idea to call the non-emergency line, they keep track and the more neighbors do that the more they pay attention. Make sure your neighbors know about it too!