Sloop Tavern (2830 NW Market St) is dealing with the aftermath of yet another theft, as they cope with a $5,000 repair bill after copper thieves hit the business last week.
“Doing business in Ballard is becoming a constant battle against copper thieves and burglars,” Sloop wrote on Instagram. They say it’s the third time their business has been hit this year, saying even though the thieves only stole $10 worth of copper, it resulted in a $5,000 repair bill.
“All this to say we won’t be chilling our mugs and bottles/cans will be in camping coolers,” the Sloop wrote.
Copper theft is fairly common in Seattle and especially in Ballard. Earlier this year, Seattle Biscuit Co. dealt with the fallout of copper theft and other losses.
Seattle Biscuit Co. chef and owner Sam Thompson said someone tore apart an outdoor refrigeration unit, stripping out all of the copper and leaving it beyond repair. He estimated the damage at more than $25,000.
The incident is similar to a case earlier this year at Taproot Theatre in Greenwood, where two of the theater’s three rooftop HVAC units were vandalized and stripped for copper. Taproot said the damage destroyed both units, despite only about $40 worth of copper being stolen, prompting the nonprofit to launch a $400,000 fundraising campaign to help cover repairs and support operations while it addressed the damage.
Copper theft has become an increasing concern across Washington, prompting utilities, law enforcement agencies and lawmakers to pursue new prevention efforts. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, companies such as Lumen have invested in remote cameras and hidden detection devices while working with investigators to identify theft hot spots.
Lumen is also backing legislation that would increase penalties for copper theft involving critical infrastructure, while the King County Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencies support proposals that would require scrap metal dealers to hold purchased copper for a period of time, provide law enforcement access to purchase records, and face penalties for knowingly dealing in stolen metal.
If you want to support Sloop Tavern, they’re open 3–11 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Photo: Sloop Tavern