Renton residents say they're plagued by prowlers

Residents in North Downtown Renton are fighting back against a recent increase in prowlers.

More neighbors have added cameras and they're sharing the images on the social media site Nextdoor.

They're frustrated that they are targeted by prowlers repeatedly. They say anything that isn't nailed down is likely to be stolen.

"The heightened level of action -- people coming through trying every door latch, every window, all the time all day and all through the night. If you happen to mess up, you're kind of screwed," neighbor Kristi Hartman, who has had packages stolen off her porch and her vehicle prowled, said. "Neighbors are working really hard together to bring it back to where we can have our safe neighborhood feeling again."

Neighbors told KIRO 7 their security and communication efforts paid off last weekend.

A man was spotted near a U-Haul trailer at an apartment building where someone was in the process of moving. He ran off, but neighbors say they tracked him on his orange bicycle through their neighborhood and called police.

Renton police say when they caught up with the man, with the help from several calls by neighbors, they found he had a $4,000 warrant for theft 3 from Bellevue police.

The man was arrested and transferred to Bellevue police custody. They didn't find any homes or vehicles that had been broken into.

KIRO 7 did a story on the neighborhood on March 31, after a neighbor posted surveillance images on the outside of their garage, where a prowler had tried to break in. The neighbor wanted the prowlers to know they were being watched.

But the very next day, another prowler was on their property, trying to open the doors on a car in the driveway. The homeowners were so frustrated, they put a package with dog feces inside of it on their porch to see if someone would take it.

They say a prowler picked it up, but then put it back down.

The homeowner thinks the prowler saw the surveillance camera and was scared off.

KIRO 7 asked Renton police if the north downtown neighborhood has more crime than other parts of the city. Commander Dave Leibman said it really doesn't.

"We're very well aware of the problems they're having. We spend a lot of time down there doing routine patrol. We are very responsive when we do get calls in that area, we get there right away, " said Commander Dave Leibman.

He said the images from surveillance systems help police if a crime has been committed.

He encouraged neighbors to keep calling 911 to report suspicious behavior.

Neighbors say police do come when they call, but they would like to see more officers on patrol. They also said they'd like to see officers on bikes or on foot.

Cox Media Group