April 23, 2026. The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce is keenly aware that criminal activity affecting Magnolia has accelerated, and its impacts have been felt widely.
DATA SHOWS THAT MAGNOLIA AND INTERBAY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE HARD-HIT BY INCREASES IN CRIME. The Chamber has gathered information through surveys, in-the-field meetings with the SPD, and roundtable discussions with business owners, indicating that many of our small businesses are experiencing repeated break-ins, broken windows, ongoing vandalism, and waves of “smash-and-grab robberies,” leading to ever-increasing security and repair costs (see the report here.) Rising repeat criminal activity prompts our businesses to invest heavily in crime-prevention measures, including security systems, cameras, alarms, lighting, and deadbolts.Many of our small business owners are increasingly frustrated by the lack of police response and worried about the very survival of their enterprises. The cost of doing business due to rising crime is becoming intolerable, and the safety of our neighborhood business centers is at risk. For recent local news coverage of Magnolia crime, see KING 5, KIRO 7, and KOMO 4.
THE CHAMBER ADVOCATES FOR SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERS. The Chamber is working with the Magnolia Community Council (the Council) to strengthen collaboration, improve engagement with the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and support crime-fighting measures. The Chamber joined forces with the Council on April 21st for a meeting to explore ways the neighborhood can work together to support safety across Magnolia. The meeting featured Marc Garth-Green, our SPD precinct’s Captain, and Barb Biondo, our SPD precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator, who shared updates on neighborhood safety and crime-prevention programs. Chamber leadership was joined at the meeting by several of our members, who represented the business perspective on the impacts of increased criminal activity and continued its partnership.
CALL IN CRIME, EVERY TIME. In September 2025, the Chamber also attended an Interbay Safety & Security gathering hosted by the Seattle Storm and attended by several Interbay businesses. Former SPD Precinct Captain Rob Brown and former Mayor Harrell’s top public safety staff were in attendance. Captain Brown encouraged calling 911 for emergencies and 206-625-5011 for non-emergencies when reporting a crime. While SPD is short-staffed, the dispatch center is not. When a business calls, the dispatcher triages needs and logs data. This data helps police understand the magnitude and location of problems, and the city sets priorities. At the Council’s meeting on April 21st, Captain Garth-Green repeated the same message: call 911 or 206-625-5011 if a victim of crime – it is essential to improving police presence in Magnolia and Interbay.
RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT AND FIGHT CRIME – BUSINESS FOCUSED. In addition to calling the SPD when a crime occurs, the SPD shared a number of crime-prevention activities. Following a March business roundtable hosted by the Chamber, Magnolia Village merchants organized a fledgling Business Watch to share information and best practices on crime prevention. We aim to organize a workshop on the value of the Business Watch concept in the coming weeks.
In addition, SPD provides digital resources to learn more about police activity and crime in the neighborhood: The digital maps show where “Calls for Service” are occurring and are as close to real-time as possible. There are also digital maps showing police responses from the last 24 hours, and a crime data map displays finalized crime reports from the past seven days. These maps demonstrate how vital it is to report every crime and to identify patterns of criminal behavior. SPD prioritizes and allocates crime-fighting and prevention resources based on this information. Call 911 or 206-625-5011 if a victim of crime.
Other programs and resources are available to help businesses address the effects of criminal activity. The Seattle Police Criminal Trespass Program is intended for private retail and commercial businesses open to the public to assist property owners in addressing crime occurring on their property. Businesses should contact Magnolia’s & Interbay’s police precinct to obtain a trespass authorization form: WPrecinctTrespassProgram@seattle.gov. Once the contract is processed, the SPD administrator will send a confirmation email and a copy of the completed contract, and a link to the Conditions of Entry (COE) sign(s) to post in clearly visible locations at all commercial/retail entrances.
The Office of Economic Development’s Back to Business programs offer substantial reimbursement for storefront repairs and security upgrades for victims of criminal activity. To qualify, businesses must complete a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) security assessment with a certified expert, such as a Crime Prevention Coordinator from the Seattle Police Department. Only security measures purchased after the CPTED assessment is complete are eligible for reimbursement. A number of Magnolia/Interbay businesses have taken advantage of these programs, and we can connect interested businesses with those that have used these resources.
Below is a helpful graphic from our friends at the Magnolia Community Council. Please click on image below to access links provided in the body of the graphic. Thanks again to the leadership and collegiality of the Magnolia Community Council!
