Letter: Safeway Parking lot 'Smash and Grab'
Posted on May 6, 2010On May 4 after 12:30 pm I was a victim to 'smash and grab' in the Lakewood Safeway parking lot. A by-stander witnessed the crime. A Lakewood police office happened to be at the nearby bank when the witness and a Safeway staffer and I were at my car as I called 911. At that time when I called 911 for a police officer the dispatcher told me if my items that were stolen weren't over $1500.00 they will not send out a cop. The dispatcher then told me to file a report online to www.lesa.net. I felt helpless and confused that my car window was smashed in and my work bag with all my medications that cost well over $300.00 was stolen and there was nothing I could do while pouring hail rain is getting in my car.
Still on my cell phone with 911 and about 10 minutes into listening to the witness, the Safeway staffer walked back over to the gas station. The witness and I started to walk back into Safeway when the Lakewood police office started to pass me when I waved to stopped him for help. He was kind enough to come back to my car and assist me. Then the witness came back to my car and gave her statement on the description of the car and people; she stated that the car was a "White Crown Vic police looking car" with the side light still on it and there was a black male with long braid/dread lock hair with a black female both in their late 30's early 40's.
The Safeway staffer came back and stated that the gas station surveillance camera might have the people on tape. As the police officer was finishing his report the Lakewood Mall Security finally showed up. Why did it take so long for the mall security to responded, is my question?
Lakewood used to be a nice safe place to shop, not anymore. It is getting bad in Lakewood when you can't even go to a grocery store and
try placing food in your car without someone robbing your cart of groceries from you. People need to be aware that there is a couple driving an old cop car around in the Lakewood mall doing what they call a smash and grab to peoples cars.
Thank goodness I didn’t have any real personal information in the bag, except where I work and how much I make or medication for a inflamed
bladder.
Constance Verzano
Lakewood, Wash.
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5 Comments
May 7th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Obviously, these were two of the "entitled" people and they were trying to "redistribute" the wealth.
May 7th, 2010 at 10:04 am
When my brother, who has challenges, had his debit card stolen by a 'friend', the Lakewood police refused to do anything about it, including checking with Verizon when the 'friend' paid a $200+ phone bill and got gas at a station just outside the city limits in Manitou. The Lakewood police suggested my brother had given the card to the friend and lied to me. Eventually the bank was able to clear up the mess but the police response left a very bad impression with me.
May 7th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Obviously there are limitation to what local police can and can't do related to resources and the specific situation. But I think we need to expect the best from our relatively new police department. I would suggest that anyone that has comments or suggestion on how to improve public safety - attend the regular Public Safety Advisory Committee meeting for the City of Lakewood. This group of which I am a part want to make suggestions and to how we can improve our overall public safety. Your perspectives and input will be most welcome. You can also feel free to email me and I will pass the comments along.
mmrussell35@hotmail.com
May 11th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Malcolm, since you have invited comments and questions, perhaps you could help us understand how 4 LPD policemen (including 2 sergeants, one of whom supervises the drug and gang detail), will reduce crime in Lakewood while biking on the East coast. Perhaps, as a member of the PSAC, you could tell us if their biking is being done at taxpayer expense, or if these four individuals are on personal leave. 2) For a total 102 policemen, taxpayers are currently funding nine (9) sergeant positions; Neiditz is now seeking to create a 10th sergeant position. Considering that 2 sergeants are biking, LPD is apparently comfortable functioning with the 7 remaining sergeants. Why do taxpayers suddenly need to fund a 10th sergeant position? 3) Also, because I've not received an answer although I am a regular attendee at PSAC meetings, and have several times asked the PSAC to discuss the subject during their open public meetings - is the PSAC at all concerned about the extremely high number of police at-fault vehicle accidents which needlessly cost Lakewood thousands upon thousands of tax dollars? If so, why is the PSAC not openly discussing these many, many incidents? Thank you.
May 12th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Malcolm, I went to the PSAC Meeting earlier tonight wondering if you would inquire about the issues I below presented as you requested. You raised not a single issue, but you did talk a lot, and even badgered the speaker from the Fire Department during his presentation. Because I specifically asked, I learned that, when Neiditz said that a new sergeant position would increase the number of sergeants on the LPD to 7, he misrepresented that number entirely! He wasn't truthful. An authoritative member of the LPD informed me that Lakewood taxpayers are currently paying for 12 sergeants: 6 in patrol (2 for each of the 3 shifts), 1 each for major crimes, special operations, special assault, neighborhood policing, professional standards, and property. You didn't raise the question as to whether the 4 LPD policemen biking on the East coast were on doing so at taxpayer expense, or inquire about Neiditz' request for a 13th sergeant when 2 of the existing 12 were biking on the East coast, and neither did you inquire about the many, many at-fault police vehicle accidents which needlessly cost Lakewood thousands upon thousands of tax dollars. Why is it that you say you will, and then don't? I'm disappointed, but not at all surprised.