String of Bellingham burglaries include using stolen car to smash into pot shop. See the video
Bellingham law enforcement officers are investigating seven burglaries and one attempted burglary of local businesses over a 10-day span leading up to Christmas.
The burglaries and thefts do not seem to be related, and only one suspect has been arrested, according to Lt. Claudia Murphy with the Bellingham Police Department. The burglaries started with break-ins at Serendipity and Fairhaven Runners on Dec. 14, and the Barber Shack on Dec. 18.
Between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23, there were burglaries at Sandwich Odyssey, Soy House Wellman and Zuck General Contractors office, and Dank of America cannabis store. There was also an attempted burglary at Stones Throw Brewery with damage to the door.
Sandwich Odyssey
The restaurant was broken into through a window sometime between 5 p.m. Dec. 21 and the morning of Dec. 22. The suspect reportedly stole the tip jar and ate and drank items from the display case, Murphy said. The person also rummaged through areas of the kitchen and stole beer. No suspect has been identified.
Soy House
Police responded to a burglary call around 5 a.m. at the restaurant after the owner received an alarm trip and went to investigate. They discovered the glass door was smashed, and many plates had been damaged, with an open juice container. A surveillance camera captured footage of the suspect breaking the door.
Later, around 8:41 a.m., police responded to a reckless burning call at El Capitain’s, as someone lit a grill cover on fire. There was no reported damage to the building, but police were able to get a good description of a suspect, who also was caught on camera.
Police identified the suspect through the footage, and they believe the same suspect is responsible for both incidents. Police made contact with the suspect in the 1200 block of Granary Avenue and arrested him on suspicion of second-degree burglary and malicious mischief at Soy House, and third-degree reckless burning and malicious mischief at El Capitain’s.
Wellmen and Zuck General Contractors
Sometime between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23, a burglar entered the office and rummaged through desks. The suspect eventually left with a safe. It is unknown how the suspect entered the building. No suspect has been identified.
Although Wellmen and Zuck is nextdoor to Stones Throw Brewery, and someone attempted to break-in to Stones Throw on Dec. 22, there is no evidence the incidents are related, according to Murphy.
Dank of America Guide Meridian
A group of at least five burglars used a stolen vehicle to smash the door open at the Dank of America cannabis store at 5309 Guide Meridian around 4:55 a.m. Dec. 24, stealing around $5,000 worth of product, store manager Michael Patrick told The Herald. The burglars were in the store for less than two minutes, heading straight to the product they were looking for (mostly disposable vape cartridges) and scooping it into bags before leaving in the same vehicle.
The vehicle was found nearby the scene of the crime, according to Amy Cloud with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Patrick said the alarm went off the second the burglars broke through the door, but because the burglars knew what they were looking for, they were out of the store before law enforcement arrived.
Cloud said probable cause has been established to arrest the suspects on first-degree theft and malicious mischief, second-degree burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 10:50 AM.
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