SOUTH HILL, Wash. — A coffee shop in Pierce County is now closed for repairs after a man burglarized it twice in one week and then set it on fire.
The crimes at Anthem Coffee’s Sunrise Medical location in South Hill were all caught on video and now authorities are trying to figure out who the suspect is.
"I went through all the video footage and started watching it, and just my heart sunk,” said Matia Long, the general manager of Anthem Coffee.
On the night of May 13, surveillance video shows a man breaking into the shop. It shows him taking money, energy drinks, and food. After taking money, the suspect decided to leave some of the stolen money in the tip jar.
The next day, the coffee shop changed the codes on the lock box that the man was able to get into, but then the next night he was still able to get in again.
Video from May 14 shows the man walking into the parking lot with a small dog. But this time, the crime escalated from burglary to arson.
“As he was leaving, he decided to set a fire inside our establishment,” said Long.
Sprinklers and Central Pierce County Fire crews put out the flames. But now water and fire damage has closed this shop for the next two to four months. Long said the area behind the barista bar was burned and is no longer usable.
She said this crime feels personal and that it is difficult to comprehend why someone would do this.
“It's hard for us, it's hard for the community,” said Long. “We're all frustrated and want to know why and want to know where the suspect is that that did this.”
Long said that no one on her team recognizes the suspect.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said if you know who the suspect is, you should contact them. You are able to contact them anonymously.
A Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the suspect is wanted for two second-degree burglary charges and one second-degree arson charge in relation to these crimes.