Man blames roommate for burglaries and car prowls around Ballard

A burglary at a townhome under construction ended with police getting some important tips about even more burglaries and car prowls. On August 17, officers were called to the townhome in the 800 block of NW 52nd Street where someone broke in and stole construction equipment and tools including a compressor, drill, and nail guns. 

A person who lives in an apartment across the street told officers that his roommate was responsible and had actually bragged about the theft before going out to pawn the items.  The man says he believes his roommate is to blame for burglaries and car prowls across Ballard, and that the roommate will disappear for 3 or 4 days after each crime.  Seattle Police tell us a burglary detective has been assigned to the case and that the investigation is still active. 

You can read the full police report below and check daily reports from around the neighborhood on the new Seattle Police crime map.

V / stated that witness WM DOB -63 approached

him and stated that his roommate WM DOB -79 had

“bragged” to him that he had “stolen tools” from “across the street”,

reffering to the townhouse, and pawned them.

Items taken:

-Bosch rotohammer

-Hitatchi compressor

-Tape measures

-2 Porter Cable finish nail guns

-Bosh drill

-“Blue tool” bit

-Makita drill

-Proter Cable grinder

-Makita belt sander

While on sceen W / approached me and confirmed what V / told

me. Stating that he had seen him last at 0830 hours this morning leaving

their shared apartment with a duffel bag. He added that S / was

bald and was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with the letters “CAT” (as

in Caterpiller) on it. V / then stated that he had watched a male

matching that description leave the apartment building on a bicycle at

about 1430 hours. Now knowing what S / looked like V / added

that S / had approached him before looking for construction work at

the same location which was burglarized.

W / stated that S / has and will

“disappear” for 3 to 4 days after committing burglaries or car prowls. W /

believes that S / has been involved in numerous other
burglaries and car prowls in the Ballard area to .
He stated that S / had stolen a cell phone and a pack of cigarettes
out of a car near Gilman Playfield and was involved in multiple
construction site burglaries. Per W / S / does not own a
vehicle but barrows them from friends and usually uses a bicycle for
transportation.
All involved were provided an SPD business card with my information on it
and the case number.