North Seattle


Neighborhood residents robbed by “Toy Rabbit Bandit”


Seattle residents from Magnolia to Maple Leaf are reporting the return of the “injured child” lady who goes door to door with a handful of stuffed animals trying to sell them (for 10 bucks a pop) to raise money for a neighborhood child who was run over / fell out of 3-story building/ licked by salmon and is collecting cash for the family. Last sighted in Greenwood a year ago and North Seattle several months ago, the man and woman team recently showed up in Queen Anne and Magnolia, and was knocking on doors in Maple Leaf last week. The man and woman team apparently switch off on occasion between the knocker and the driver, and reportedly fled the scene at 80th St and 11th Ave NE in a car that lurched ahead suddenly and sped off (we’ll assume it was a Toyota) when a police cruiser showed up on the scene.

North Seattle police Crime Prevention Coordinator Diane Horswill recommends that people

“adopt a door answering procedure for themselves and their families. I urge they look out their window or peephole when someone comes to the door and if that person is a stranger they then speak through the closed, locked door. What I do is say, “Yes?” in a slightly louder than average voice. If it appears to be any kind of solicitation, charity, scam or whatever I say a firm “No thanks.” If you believe you might be interested in the cause you can ask them to leave literature on the porch. I believe people should give to charity but only after they do some research and make sure their money is going to a legitimate cause.”

Residents are advised to call 911 immediately if they spot any suspicious stuffed animal related activity in their neighborhood.

Marc Phillips

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