SEATTLE — Seattle police say suspects rammed a stolen car into a Greenwood smoke shop early Wednesday morning, marking the second break-in attempt at the business in a week.
Officers responded around 2:50 a.m. to the 100 block of North 85th Street after reports of a vehicle being used to smash into the storefront.
When they arrived, they found an abandoned car in the middle of the road and extensive damage to the business, including a shattered front door, broken window, and destroyed framing, according to a police report.
The vehicle, later confirmed stolen, had been used by suspects attempting to force their way inside. Unlike a burglary at the same shop two days earlier, no one made it into the store this time.
Hashir Nadem, owner of Xhale Tobacco, spoke to KIRO 7 and says the thieves are targeting vape products, “You can see they are like kids… they’re probably doing like a black market or something.”
The shop owner and his brother had decided to sleep inside the store after the earlier burglary.
They told police they woke to the sound of the car ramming into the storefront.
As the vehicle repeatedly struck the building, the owner fired several shots from inside.
Investigators believe the gunfire caused the suspects to run before entering.
No one was injured in the incident.
“I can’t sleep peacefully at night I will tell you if I have this business,” Nadem said.
Detectives are working to determine whether the suspects were the same people involved in Monday’s burglary.
Police reviewed surveillance footage, which showed multiple vehicles and suspects.
According to the report, two vehicles blocked both sides of North 85th Street while a third car rammed into the shop.
The abandoned car was confirmed stolen from a local pizza shop employee, who reported it missing on Sept. 9 after leaving it unattended to pick up pizzas.
Police towed the vehicle for processing and collected evidence from the scene.
The shop has already been damaged twice in less than a week.
After the first burglary, the owner boarded up the storefront with a wooden door.
Nadem’s family spent Wednesday morning cleaning again. He’s frustrated police were near his shop minutes before Wednesday’s smash and grab.
He says the police took off for a call, and the thieves took advantage. “Damages like this sometimes you know insurance say sorry we don’t want to give you insurance any more. Because what’s going on in Seattle everybody’s getting broken into and then insurance is getting claimed.”
Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 911 or the police non-emergency line at 206-625-5011.
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