SEATTLE — A Seattle cannabis store was hit with a smash-and-grab within an hour of an attempted cannabis store robbery in nearby Skyway.
The owner of King's Recreational Cannabis said thieves attempted to smash through the front of the building at around 2:45 a.m. on Friday, however, the crash couldn't breach the building.
A Dockside Cannabis location in Seattle's SODO neighborhood was hit with a smash-and-grab early Friday morning. Pictures show extensive damage to the front of the building.
The first vehicle thieves used to ram into the building got stuck inside, but they had a second getaway car waiting. They first rammed the car into the company's break room and realized it was locked, so they re-rammed the car into another door to the business. The manager of the Dockside Cannabis location said it could cost more than $50,000 to fix the damage.
There were a few hundred dollars in products stolen from the business. Four suspects were involved.
This is the seventh time a Dockside Cannabis location has been hit with a smash-and-grab. A Ballard location was hit on Monday. The SODO location was hit with a different smash-and-grab on July 31.
Western Washington has seen several pot shop smash and grabs in recent months. An official with the Washington State Board of Liquor and Cannabis says from what they have heard from businesses, it seems to be an increasing problem. They said store owners are fearful.
"What we're hearing is that they're scared and they're nervous," said Chandra Wax, the director of the Enforcement and Education Division for the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.
Wax said she spoke to managers at both King County locations hit early Friday morning, Sept. 22.
"They are working hard to repair the damage and they're safe and understandably unsettled," said Wax.
She said they share the concerns of business owners and have resources available to try to keep cannabis shop employees and businesses safe. Some of those measures they are taking include holding 12 regionalized crime prevention trainings, offering free security assessments of stores, and urging Congress to pass the Safe Banking Act.
The Safe Banking Act is proposed federal legislation, aimed at giving cannabis companies access to traditional banking services, which would allow for more of these companies to operate cashless.
“We think as long as the transactions continue to be in cash that they will continue to be a target and that Congress needs to pass the Safe Banking Act,” said Wax.
Wax said they also direct store owners to look at other options they can take, like having armed security guards.
Download our free KING 5 app to stay up-to-date on news stories from across western Washington.