"Alarming trend" of burglaries reported in Central Seattle

When Chloe Brussard walked into her Seattle home on Thursday night, she saw that several rooms had been ransacked, a casserole and other food dumped on the kitchen floor and her two dogs locked in a room.

Brussard quickly realized she was the latest in dozens of Central Seattle residents whose homes had been targeted by burglars.

Seattle police said they have responded to several dozen residential burglaries since the beginning of the year. A surge of these burglaries has occurred in the daytime over the past few weeks. Police said they are still tallying the total.

"We're seeing a really alarming trend," said Lt. Deanna Nollette. "We're going to get plainclothes [officers] and plain cars in the area and hit the place hard."

Burglars are targeting homes on the outskirts of Madrona and Madison Valley in search of electronics, police said.

Brussard, who works at Microsoft, lost an Xbox, video games, a video projector, a digital camera and an MP3 player.

"I used to have this attitude that we were in the safe part [of the neighborhood]," Brussard said. "It's a violation. I feel really creeped out."

Burglars are kicking in doors and breaking windows to get into homes during the day, Nollette said. Police believe thieves are also knocking on doors and looking through windows to make sure no one is home.

On Thursday, after Brussard left for work, burglars threw a large rock through a basement window on the side of her house. Brussard and her husband are worried burglars will return to steal additional items; she said they are considering buying an alarm system.

Scot Smith, Brussard's neighbor, told police that his wife called her cellphone on Sunday when she thought she had misplaced it inside the house. To her surprise a stranger answered the phone and threatened her, police said. The suspect called back and left a message that chastised her for leaving her house unlocked, a police report said.

Police Lt. Sean O'Donnell said Smith's case is "an anomaly" and that no other residents have been threatened by burglars.

O'Donnell said that, since the first of the year, police have arrested several suspects in connection with burglaries in the area.

"We believe we are doing all we can do and should be doing," O'Donnell said.

Nollette suggests that people who live in the area keep a close eye on their home and neighbors' properties as well. She said people should lock their doors and windows and clear their yards of large rocks, garden tools and other items that could be used to break in.

"If you see anything suspicious, call 911," Nollette added.

Brussard said she walked through her neighborhood handing out fliers about the break-ins on Monday to make sure her neighbors took steps to watch for trespassers.

"I just wanted to make sure everybody who lives in this area was aware and didn't find out the hard way," Brussard said. "I wanted people to have the [Police Department's] East Precinct number handy." The number is 206-684-4300.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com