SEATTLE — Thursday was a whirlwind for Shannon Perry and Johnathan Fleming, the owners of Tattoo Pizzazz in West Seattle. Just before 4:30 a.m., the couple's security cameras captured three burglars breaking into the tattoo shop. In under two minutes, the thieves stole tattoo equipment and supplies and left them with a busted window to replace.
"It did seem a little bit like they knew what they were doing but then when I went over my stuff, there were things they did and didn't take that make it seem like they don't know about tattooing either," Perry said. "I can't tell if they knew or did not know, or just were in hurry and grabbing what was in front of them."
Fleming said they only take digital payments, so there's never any cash on site. The couple believes the burglars targeted them because their business stands out.
"Our neighbor who ended up calling police said that they'd been casing the neighborhood," Perry said.
Diane Venti, who owns Alki Arts, is the neighbor who called 911.
"I got no sleep because I kept hearing, at like at three in the morning, this loud truck," Venti said.
According to Venti, the burglars spent a good hour and half in the neighborhood. The truck kept waking her up. She spotted them in her alley and in front of Tattoo Pizzazz twice. The first time, she said they pulled away. When they pulled up and parked the second time, Venti said she knew something was about to happen. She saw them jump out of the truck.
"I didn't know what to do. Do I call police? Do I record it? Do I take a picture? What am I supposed to do? Do I yell at them? I was too scared, too scared to confront them," she said.
Venti turned over all the video and pictures she took of the burglary.
"We all look out for each other in this neighborhood," she said.
Within hours of the burglary, the GoFundMe Fleming created raised enough money to cover the costs for their stolen supplies and to replace their window. They ended the fundraiser once it surpassed $10,000.
"It made me cry to feel the community support us in that way, emotional and amazing," Perry said.
Seattle police have not arrested the burglars. The red truck they were driving is "believed to be reported stolen" according to SPD. As of this article being published, a detective has not been assigned to the case.