Man reports $50,000 loss to car prowler

Seattle Police often remind people to be careful leaving valuables in their cars, particularly during the holidays.

One man learned that lesson the hard way Friday, when he reported that a thief broke into his silver 2007 Cadillac Escalade and made off with $50,000 worth of goods.

The thief's new loot includes cash, diamonds, a laptop computer, a passport and a pilot's license, according to a police report.

The theft occurred near the Experience Music Project building and in a parking lot at Fifth Avenue North and Harrison Street.

The man parked the sport utility vehicle around 6:30 p.m. When he returned around 7:45 p.m., someone had punched the driver's side keyhole and took a black computer bag and dark brown briefcase.

Repairing the keyhole is expected to cost about $200.

The report says Seattle-based American Seafoods Co. owns the SUV, and the victim is a company executive. The report does not say why the man had those items in the SUV.

The executive might not have known that he parked in the 12th worst location for car prowls in Seattle, based on a Seattle P-I analysis of police data from 1989 to May 2007.

During this period, victims have told police of 305 car prowls.

The worst location for car prowls during this period was 3800 W. Government Way, an area inside Discovery Park. Since 1989, at least 623 car prowls were reported in that area.

While car prowls in Seattle have dropped since the 1990s, police say it is difficult to retrieve stolen items.

Last year, thieves stole an estimated $6.2 million in goods during prowls, but investigators and victims recovered only about 5 percent of those items.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

To see the full list of top locations for car prowls in Seattle, visit goto.seattlepi.com/322908.