A popular Seattle donut shop chain says it is tired of getting cleaned out by burglars and is now publicly calling on City Hall to do something about it.
Dough Joy’s staff and managers say thieves have repeatedly broken into its locations in West Seattle, Capitol Hill and Ballard, costing them equipment, time and peace of mind. The crew says the run of burglaries has left the team shaken and frustrated.
Their plea landed in the spotlight this week after the owner went on camera to urge city officials to respond to what he described as an uptick in property crime, in a segment aired June 3 by FOX 13 Seattle. The report said thieves had “repeatedly broken into” the three shops and showed short clips from the damaged storefronts along with the owner’s comments.
One of the earlier hits came at a particularly sour moment. The Ballard shop was burglarized during the business’s fifth anniversary week, and the owners detailed the mess in an Instagram post that was later reproduced by My Ballard. “Not the Birthday gift we were hoping for,” they wrote, explaining that a lock had been drilled out and equipment, including iPads, was stolen. The owners also encouraged customers to rally around the staff while repairs were underway.
Three Neighborhoods Hit
Dough Joy lists three brick and mortar locations in Seattle, in Capitol Hill, Ballard and the West Seattle Junction. The owners say every one of them has now been targeted. The full lineup of shops and hours is posted on Dough Joy.
Local coverage has tied the break ins at Dough Joy to a broader pattern of overnight burglaries hitting small businesses in the Junction and Ballard. Some owners have responded by boarding up windows, swapping out locks and coordinating extra night checks with neighbors. West Seattle Blog has documented similar overnight incidents in the area in recent years, highlighting how often small storefronts are ending up in the crosshairs.
Business Groups And Council Members Step In
Neighborhood groups and city leaders say they are trying to help businesses brace for more break ins while also improving reporting to police. In Ballard, the Ballard Alliance has been conducting on site security assessments and offering practical advice on measures like cameras, lighting and reinforced doors.
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss has urged business owners to reach out for help. Citing data from the Seattle Police Department dashboard, My Ballard reported that Ballard had logged 181 property crime burglaries as of the week of May 4. The outlet also summarized the Alliance’s guidance on documenting every incident so SPD can better track trends and follow up.
Help And Resources For Affected Shops
City officials point affected businesses to two main reimbursement programs for repairs and prevention. The Storefront Repair Fund can reimburse eligible repair costs, while the Storefront Security Fund helps cover approved security upgrades up to set limits.
Impacted owners are advised to file police reports, save surveillance video and other evidence, then check the city program pages for details on eligibility, documentation and how to apply. The goal of those funds is to help small shops shoulder immediate cleanup and replacement costs and to finance longer term security improvements.
At Dough Joy, owners say the string of hits has been demoralizing, but they insist they will keep serving their neighborhoods while pressing city leaders for clearer answers. Neighbors and customers are being urged to keep showing up, buying donuts and supporting staff as repairs and new security measures move forward.
