Police are investigating a series of home invasion robberies in Beacon Hill this week. In one of the robberies, the owner and the suspects exchanged gunfire. There were no reported injuries in either of the incidents.
On December 18th, 2023, officers responded to a report of a home invasion robbery near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Graham Street. Officers arrived and contacted a male victim who stated he had just returned from a casino and while walking home was approached by several males with guns. The suspects forced him to open his front door and then ransacked the home looking for valuables. The suspects stole cash and fled the scene.
The second incident involved two separate attempts at the same house. Wednesday morning, shortly after 5:30 a.m., South Precinct officers responded to a report of an attempted home invasion robbery near the intersection of Beacon Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street. Police contacted the homeowner who stated three men tried to break down his door but were unsuccessful. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle.
The second attempt occurred shortly after 12:25 a.m. on Thursday. This time four male suspects returned to the house and tried to break down the front door with a sledgehammer. The victim said he was at home asleep when he heard banging at the door. The victim armed himself with a rifle and when the suspects tried to enter the home, he shot at them. The suspects fired back as they retreated. The suspects then sped off in a vehicle.
The homeowner was uninjured, and it is not known if any of the suspects were shot during the incident. Officers located bullet damage to the living room and bedroom windows.
Officers have not located the suspects or suspect vehicle in either case.
Police processed both scenes for evidence. Robbery detectives responded and will be leading the investigations.
These robberies share a similar set of circumstances to a series of robberies that occurred earlier in the year. All victims were of Asian descent and the suspects were all Black males. For more information regarding the pattern robberies please see the following link: https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2023/08/25/spd-seeking-publics-help-in-identifying-robbers/
Though many of the suspects in these pattern robberies have been arrested and remain in jail, detectives are concerned regarding the recent uptick in similar cases.
The Seattle Police Department would like to remind the public of some of the steps they can take to provide an increased measure of security and safety during the holidays. Please see the following Safety Alert: https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2023/08/25/safety-alert-home-invasion/
If you have any information, please call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
