Highland Espresso (4013 NW Leary Way) says its Ballard cafe was burglarized in the early morning hours of June 25, with thieves stealing equipment and causing an estimated $10,000 in losses.
According to owner Lauren Ruiz, the break-in happened around 3:30 a.m. Ruiz said a masked thief used a crowbar to pry open the cafe’s drive-thru window before using a metal grinder to cut through the lock securing the business’s security bars and climb inside.
Ruiz said the thief also attempted to enter through a side door, drilling multiple holes into it. One of the holes burned the insulation inside the door, though she said it did not start a fire.
Ruiz said the cafe’s indoor security cameras went offline shortly after the thief entered the building. She later discovered that the thief had cut the wires to the indoor cameras and security system, stolen the digital video recorder that stored the footage, and cut the cords to the exterior cameras, leaving the business without its security system.
The thief stole an espresso grinder, the cafe’s sales system, other espresso equipment, food inventory, more than $2,000 worth of bike parts from the business’s bike shop, and the cafe’s security equipment. In a GoFundMe campaign launched following the break-in, the business estimates the total theft and damage at approximately $10,000. The GoFundMe is aiming to raise $5,000.
“These criminals aren’t stealing from a large corporation, they’re stealing from a two-month-old small business started by a young entrepreneur and supported by hardworking employee,” Ruiz told My Ballard. “Small businesses already face countless challenges, and incidents like this make it hard to keep doors open.”
Ruiz said neighboring businesses provided security footage that captured the vehicle used in the break-in after Highland Espresso’s own surveillance system was disabled.
She also thanked nearby restaurant Outsider BBQ for providing a replacement sales system, allowing the cafe to continue operating the same day.
Highland Espresso opened in May, taking over the former Cycle & Coffee space after that business closed in January. Ruiz, who also operates a Highland Espresso location in Montesano, said at the time that she wanted to preserve the longtime community gathering space while continuing to offer both coffee and bike services.
Despite the break-in, Ruiz said the cafe remains open while working to recover from the losses.
“Whether you’re able to donate, share our story, or simply stop by for a coffee, every act of support makes a difference and helps us rebuild,” Ruiz told My Ballard.