Early this morning in Seattle, two separate pot shops became the latest targets of crash-and-grab burglary attempts. According to KING 5, The Reef Cannabis in Capitol Hill and Cannazone in SoDo were both rammed by vehicles in an attempt by suspects to gain entry into the premises after hours. The owner of Cannazone told KING 5 that a costly security door, priced at approximately $6,000, was instrumental in thwarting the thieves. Despite the breach attempt at around 4 a.m., no entry was gained nor items lost; however, a gas meter outside the business was hit.
In a similar vein, a separate report from KIRO 7 stated that the suspects fled the scene in two separate vehicles following the incident. The events prompted police action and led to temporary street closures in the Capitol Hill area. The coordinated nature of these attacks, where suspects arrive in multiple vehicles to carry out their crimes, highlights an alarming method used to victimize the businesses.
Adding to the day's chaos, KOMO News reported that one of the stores had a vestibule-type entrance which helped prevent the vehicle from completely breaching the shop's interior defenses. According to the account, while the suspects were unsuccessful in their break-in, they caused significant collateral damage by striking a gas line. A vehicle was left behind by the individuals as they escaped in the other two. Responding to these events, the Seattle Fire Department promptly arrived at the scene and measures were taken to evacuate the street until it was deemed safe.
