A string of recent break-ins and vandalism incidents has left several Ballard restaurant owners dealing with damage, financial losses, and mounting frustration.
Around a half dozen Ballard businesses have sustained damage and loss since the start of the year, including Copine, whose front window was recently broken.
At Copine (6460 24th Avenue NW), security footage shows what staff described as a group of intoxicated individuals trying to manage an out-of-control friend. “He then stopped and picked up a rock and smashed in the window. Then did the same to Single Hill Commons,” the restaurant said. The business had installed security film on its windows after a previous break-in.
At Biscuit and Bean (5404 Leary Ave NW), owner Ben Libay said the cafe was broken into late at night on February 5. There was no forced entry or broken glass.
“It was actually a little creative to the point where I wasn’t as mad. Mainly because nothing was broken,” Libay wrote. Still, the intruders took till money, drop money, an employee’s laptop, and a Bluetooth speaker, with losses estimated between $800 and $1,000.
“All I can say through this experience is that these thieves are getting more creative and definitely paying attention to not only how they can discreetly break in but where all the important stuff is located,” Libay said, adding that he assumed they had been casing the cafe. beforehand. He did not call the police. “I did not call the police because I know there’s nothing they’ll be able to do.”
Libay said the loss does not meet his insurance deductible and described the incident as a “small petty crime” that is often not prioritized. “Even though these are minor break-ins, for some businesses this can be enough to shut down,” he said.
Damage at Seattle Biscuit Co. (4001 NW Leary Way) was more extensive. Chef and owner Sam Thompson said an outdoor refrigeration unit was “ripped open, completely destroyed, and all copper was stripped,” damaging the system and resulting in losses of more than $25,000. He said there were also two attempted break-ins the following night, and all three incidents were captured on security footage.
“Police response — nonexistent,” Thompson wrote in an email to My Ballard. “After many phone calls, I never saw any actual police response.” He said that during one 911 call, an individual suggested he and his team arm themselves for safety. “This is ludicrous and terrifying to think that this is what 911 operators are now recommending,” he wrote.
Thompson said the business has nearly daily incidents and described feeling “in a losing battle with little to no support from the city.” With no insurance coverage for the refrigeration damage, Seattle Biscuit Co. started a GoFundMe campaign and said the community response has been strong.
At Cloudy Cafe (6420 24th Avenue NW), owner Dionne Himmelfarb said two individuals attempted to break in at 5 a.m. on February 9. The suspects broke a lockbox and stole a unit key and fob, damaged a courtyard gate, and attempted to force entry through a sidewalk door before fleeing in a medium-sized white SUV. The incident was captured on security cameras.
“We feel very fortunate that they did not gain entry, especially since our baker had been on-site since 4:15 am,” Himmelfarb wrote. As a new small business, she said the repair costs are a significant burden.
At Salt & Sugar (5615 24th Ave NW), a masked individual entered the front lobby around 1:45 a.m. on January 28 after earlier attempts to access the building. The individual took coins, keys, an iPad, and third-party tablets before leaving. There were no broken windows.
After reviewing footage and speaking with neighbors, the business owner said they learned that police had responded to a reported attempted break-in days earlier, but did not notify the cafe because there was no point of contact. The owner, who asked not to be named, said that had they been notified, they might have identified and fixed a loosened lock before the later entry.
“Neither the city nor SPD are willing to do much about this, and if they are, they are moving way too slow and falling way behind,” the owner wrote, adding that small businesses are already under pressure from rising costs. “The last thing we should have to spend/waste time on is to figure out how to safeguard our businesses and people, which our tax money should be taking care of.”
In response to the recent incidents, Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss said property crime adds to the already thin margins small businesses operate on.
“It’s difficult enough to own a small business in the United States right now. Having to deal with property crime on top of that is completely unacceptable,” Strauss said. “People who own and operate their businesses do so on a small margin, and we as the City of Seattle need to do our part to make sure they keep the margins they make. This means we need to do better to address the criminals who target our businesses.”
Strauss said he has been monitoring the situation and meeting regularly with Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes and the North Precinct captain to raise public safety issues and create response plans. He said the Seattle Police Department is using a strategy that relies on weekly data analysis to identify micro-time hot spots (areas within one block that experience four or more similar incidents) and implement targeted interventions.
He also called for reforms to state recycling laws to address copper theft and pointed to city programs that provide reimbursements for storefront repairs and security improvements.
Several business owners said community support remains critical as they navigate the financial and emotional toll of repeated property crimes.
My Ballard reached out to SPD to learn more about policing efforts in Ballard and we have not yet received a response.
Photo: Vandalism at Copine (courtesy Copine)