This account of an attempted home break-in in Radio Point will make you want to go double-check your deadbolts — or be thankful you live in a condo or apartment building. The post showed up on CHS Monday morning but I didn’t want to bring it to everybody’s attention until I was able to get more details and confirm a few facts with SPD. Here’s the description of the attempted break-in:
12.30am Sunday morning January 11 we experienced an attempted break-in to our townhome on 18th Avenue. We were home upstairs, with the lights on. The door bell at our upper door (split level entry) rang a few times in quick succession, followed by a brief wait, and another few rings. We stayed quiet; discussing whether or not to see what was up.
Shortly thereafter, they tried to kick in our lower door and break the frame. This shook the front of the house and was very forceful. At this point I (Matthew) came downstairs while Tricia phoned 911. I looked out the window and noticed there were two young gang members (confirmed later by police) standing on the sidewalk keeping watch. They were looking down the side of our property at the third man who was grabbing one of our patio blocks. This third man then came around to our lower door and began smashing the block against the window. I then banged on the upper window and flicked the lights on and off to let them know they were being watched and we were home. They did not immediately respond to this, and tried once more to break the window/door.
Eventually the three men quickly headed north on 18th and were approached by the police who then gave chase and were able to catch one. The police recognized the other two as part of the 23rd and Union Street gang (named something very similar). Fortunately our window is not overly damaged; the door frame has slight damage but also held.
SPD confirmed that they are investigating the incident but could not say if they have specific suspects they are looking for. The suspects were described as three black men, in their 20s, wearing dark hoodies. The one man who was stopped by officers was questioned and released. SPD could not confirm if the are investigating this incident in conjunction with any other agency. In the Monday post, the victim said she has been told the FBI is working cases involving gang activity.
This is very interesting…two weeks ago we had a similar incident at our house on 23rd Ave. It was about 5:30 a.m. and our doorbell rang. As I tried to wake my husband up, the doorbell rang again and someone pounded on the door. I went to the top of the stairs and could see a young man wearing a sweatshirt with his hood up standing on the doorstep (I had accidentally left the outdoor light on that night). I yelled, “Who is it? Hello?” He quickly walked down the steps and left. I went downstairs and looked out the window and no one was in sight. I then called the police department’s non-emergency number to let them know what had happened–it sounds somewhat similar to what Matthew and Tricia experienced.
Oops–we’re on 21st, not 23rd. I posted without re-reading…
My wife got mugged on 22nd and Olive on a Sunday morning around 10 AM on the way to Meredith Mathews YMCA about a week before Christmas. No weapons were used.
That is not necessary at all.
I hope you are served up some justice by getting your crotch kicked
When we had our very scary break in last summer while I was home, the perps rang the door bell in the same fashion. Very rapid and with urgency, they pounded on the door and then rang the bell again three times in a row. What we learned (too late) is that you need to announce yourself in the house, tell them to get off your property (through a safe barrier such as the locked door or upstairs window) and call 911- NOT the non emergency number. These low life punks are very brazen and have little to lose. Call as much attention by shouting and yelling so that your neighbors are alerted of what is going on. The perps are counting on us being docile and waiting for the police and it’s time for this to stop. The punks don’t like lights so porch lights should be left on at night, sensor lights freak them out even more. Door jamb reinforcements and locks are available at the hardware store, invest in them it gives great peace of mind.
remember to click the ‘report abuse’ link when you see garbage on the site. The system will clean up reported garbage.
Near 19th Ave & Jefferson. We had no doorbell, but they banged on the door a few times, then banged the window, tried the doorknob, and banged again before going away. I didn’t have a suspect description, but I’ve been looking to see if anything like this has been happening in the area.
Last July my doorbell rang around noon. I ignored it. Then I found someone climbing in a second-storey window; I pushed him out and he ran away with his accomplice. I will now call 911 IMMEDIATELY when my doorbell unexpectedly rings; my friends always tell me when they’re headed over. I live in Madrona, by the way, not on Capital Hill.
Glad to see that the suspect arrested was immedidately released. SPD does an absolutely awful job of protecting the neighborhood
It’s not the police who release suspects, it’s the City/County attorney’s office who opts not to charge them and they get released.
HW, what cross-street? I’m on 23rd and Republican so I’d like to get a sense of this gang’s range.
If someone breaks into your house, do you have the right to shoot them?
Washington doesn’t have a Castle law per se (yet), or a duty to retreat law either (which is good). We have pretty straight forward laws about defending your being and family in your home however…so yes, but if you don’t kill them, they (and their family) can come after you for pain and suffering so make sure you are a good shot, lest you want to pay for their initial crime of breaking and entering, and then for their medical care for their life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Doctrine
i’m not a lawyer, but i say probably not. i.e. breaking in doesn’t in and of itself justify homicide. i’m guessing you’d have to reasonably feel that you or your family is in imminent danger. example, you walk downstairs and see someone in your house. as soon as the person sees you, they turn around and run out the door. do you shoot them in the back?
now personally when it comes to my own family i’d probably take a pretty broad and inclusive definition of “imminent danger”…
I’m studying for the WA State Bar right now, so I can answer this question. You are allowed to defend yourself and other occupants of your home in a manner proportionate to the threat. You may use deadly force if you have a reasonable belief your life is in danger.
let me get it down on record that there have been a few other break-ins on this block the last year and a half. The 1st rash of break-ins occurred while the (neighboring) properties were under construction. The perps damaged the doors of several homes and stole several pre-installed a/v units. It’s my understanding that nobody was caught. It seems they were partying in the units as well, among other things a bottle of wine was stolen (from the show-home). The 2nd break-in (that we’re aware of) happened maybe 6 months ago (sorry, I forget exactly when) where the perps broke in through a second story balcony, street-side, in plain sight of our busy street, and stole a number of electronics, tv, etc. Nobody was home at the time but we were home next door… and heard nothing…
i might also add that the majority of our cars parked on the street were vandalized repeatedly over the span of a month or two, beginning on Christmas Eve 2007… fun stuff.
(imho) this thread should be posted on Central District News as well(?)
It is not the job of police or prosecutors to judge guilt or impose punishment (e.g., to lock someone up). In the United States, we leave that to judges and juries. Police are there to stop immediate danger and to take notes. Anyone who faults them for not locking people up misunderstands the duty of police.