For the second time in less than six months, the Seattle pot shop Cannazone has been hit by a brazen crash-and-grab burglary. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a black vehicle rammed into the store's wall, shattering the peace of the SODO neighborhood along 1st Avenue. According to KING 5 News, a gang of five suspects gained entry and absconded with approximately $15,000 worth of merchandise.
The early morning quiet was disrupted between 3 and 4 a.m., as the thieves executed their smash-and-grab, leaving behind a scene of disarray and loss. In an interview obtained by KOMO News, Cannazone owner Julieth Jreige voiced her exasperation: "This is the sixth time we've been hit (at all western Washington locations), Many drive-ins. Sometimes they just break a window, sometimes they steal a car and break in with a Kia. It's getting frustrating. I'm getting tired of it."
Not only did the thieves make off with high-value items, Jreige estimated the cost to repair the smashed storefront would run about $30,000. The string of burglaries at her stores has pushed the owner to the brink, contemplating steel barricades for protection and even considering leaving the business behind. Despite these defenses, the pattern of predawn alarms signaling another break-in appears relentless.
"It's between 3:30 and 4 o'clock (a.m.) every single time. So when I get call at that time, I know my store's getting broken into," Jreige explained. Her frustration is compounded by the broader issue—a swelling trend of crash-and-grabs plaguing western Washington pot shops. With a weary voice, Jreige offered a plea: "It has to start, I think, at home. It's not worth it. People have to tell their kids it’s not worth it. You're hurting other people. What are you getting out of it? I just hope parents are talking to their kids."
