The holidays can be tough to get through. There are presents to buy and family to entertain. For those most affected by the present economy – those who were forced to take cuts in pay and hours, or are out of work entirely – the prospect of the holidays can be a little dim. It’s in these, the worst of times, that friends and communities come together to help others. One of our readers wrote in today asking the Queen Anne community to do just that – help a fellow neighbor and her friend. Margaret wrote,

Hello QA View Team,

I’m an avid reader and I know how the community comes together to help a fellow Queen Anne neighbor. Last night my friend, who lives in lower Queen Anne, had her car stolen from outside of Second Ascent, 5209 Ballard Ave. NW. It was locked and unfortunately inside were a pair of borrowed XC skis (details below), and in the trunk were her family’s Christmas gifts. Compounding the unfairness of this crime is that my friend has not had a job in year. She was laid off from an architecture firm that went bankrupt so she didn’t even receive her last paycheck or get any severance. Obviously this is an awful turn of events for someone already struggling. I’m hoping that your readers can help us find her car, which may have been abandoned in their neighborhoods. It is an older model with some unique identifiers so it’s easy to spot:

• 1990 White Honda Accord, WA license plate

• Peeling rear tinted window and very loud muffler.

Also, the XC skiis in the car are pretty unique as well in case anyone is approached to buy them. The police reported that a pawn shop on Aurora Ave was offered similar XC skiis but they did not purchase them.

• Light blue wood pendelton skis 190cm have homemade wood block screwed to one ski and the fiberglass is peeling up considerably on the back of one ski. They go with a pair of mens size 9 grey rosignol boots that fit directly into the nnn bindings with gray and black poles with black solid plastic cups at ends.

• The yellow skis are 195cm in length and say touring on them and are Fischer’s. Inside ski has string of fiberglass. Size 7.5 womens black leather boots possibly brand Solomon, Columbia or Timberland. Bright blue and gray poles have blue plastic nets wide on one side of each base.

If cars or skiis are spotted we ask that you call:

Sgt Tom Doran at (206) 684-8948
Seattle Police Department
Auto Theft Unit #B752B
610 Fifth Ave
PO Box 34986
Seattle WA, 98124-4986

It may be a long shot, but Margaret hopes that her friend’s car and some of the items inside will be able to be located and returned to the family, making their holiday a little bit brighter. And for further proof that the community can help, Margaret writes,

We actually found a backpack a few months ago and found the owner based on your posting of a car robbery in the neighborhood with the SPU student’s passport still inside. She was leaving the country just days after her car was ransacked so it was a lifesaver.

If you see the car described or the skis, please call Sgt. Doran. Happy holidays!