10:09 PM Thu, Apr 26, 2007 | Permalink |
It must be difficult to run a business when criminals are running loose in your neighborhood. That's the predicament SeaTac hotel and motel owners (who declined to be interviewed on the record for this story) say they are in. Car prowls and thefts have for decades been crime number one in SeaTac. Our report shows that a surprisingly high percentage of these crimes occur at a few addresses: The hotel and motel parking lots just outside the region's airport.
Many hotel and motel owners told me that security upgrades for their parking lots are in their future plans. They said they work closely with the police to combat these crimes. And, they're very frustrated that the car thieves who are caught do little, if any, jail time.
I wonder, though, what consumers think. Do you feel these businesses owe you some kind of warning if they experience chronic car thefts/prowls? I'm also looking forward to reading about your SeaTac parking adventures...or mis-adventures.
Our car was stolen from the Super 8 SeaTac lot in December. The staff at the hotel was not surprised or helpful. My opinion at the time was that someone working at the hotel was in on the theft- I have no proof of anything- just the response of the clerk and the van driver. This was a very expensive lesson for us and one that will not be repeated. I have told everyone that will listen not to ever leave their car at the Super 8 and will continue to do so. I think everyone that has had a bad experience with any hotel needs a place to post warnings to others. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.
I had my door lock drilled out while parked at the double tree the crook did not take anything from the interior not even the Mcdonalds wrappers on the floor. Anyway I did not report it to the police but left the double tree without paying thier parking bill of 180.00 ever since I take a cab to Seatac. So add one more to the statistics.
Hilton is horrible, I have 10 friends that all had cars stolen there in the past month!
I have you all beat! When I stayed on that strip someone stole my WHOLE BED when I went down to the corner.
I came home late from a flight, and picked up my truck at the Doubletree, drove it home, and didn't drive it for several days. When I went to use it, I noticed an unsuccessful attempt at popping the door handle on the driver's side - and I assumed it had happened at home. Then, three weeks later, I flew out again for a few days - this time when I came back to the Doubletree to pick up my truck, the thieves had been successful - the door handle was popped, stuff was stolen, and the ignition and steering column were toast. They didn't steal the truck - but they had sure tried. When I took it back to the same body shop for the repairs (this time it had to be towed), the repairman said, "Oh, looks like the same guys, only this time they were successful." The way they tried to get in was relatively unorthodox - hence the inference. What it means is that the first time was not at home, but rather at the Doubletree. What is so surprising is that I've parked there just about every other week for over 6 years - and I've always parked directly in front of the exit booth that is manned 24/7. My guess is that the booth attendants, in perfect sight of my truck, are part of the problem. As you might expect, the hotel was no help at all - but surprise, surprise - the Monday after the second attempt (which I discovered on a Friday), a security service suddenly showed up at the hotel parking lot. I stopped to talk with one of them - they had just been hired by the hotel. Coincidence???