Man arrested after break-in, vandalism reported at downtown Bellingham business
A 36-year-old Bellingham man was arrested Friday on suspicion of crimes related to breaking into AB Crepes in Bellingham. The establishment, located at 1311 Railroad Ave., posted on social media that they had to open late to deal with the break-in.
An employee told The Bellingham Herald that when someone arrived to open the business at 7 a.m., they found the man asleep inside the back room. Police were called, and Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said officers arrived at the scene at 7:23 a.m.
AB Crepes was “ransacked,” Murphy said, and batter, cups and straws were spilled on the ground. Some of the food was eaten. Ashes and burned papers were also found on the floor near other flammable objects, Murphy said.
The man had to climb over two fences to get to the part of AB Crepes where he was found. He was booked in Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, second-degree reckless burning and third-degree malicious mischief.
The break-in is the second burglary of a local downtown business in recent days. L&L Libations, the bar connected to Leaf & Ladle, was broken into on Tuesday. The suspect was tackled by an employee when he tried to flee and was arrested.