The Redmond Police Department (RPD) is investigating a lightning burglary at the Hashtag Cannabis cannabis shop in the Oldtown neighborhood that occurred either late Thursday or early Friday.
Surveillance video shows a dark SUV backing up to the front door. The driver then hits the accelerator and crashes through the front door.
“I’m just so upset and frustrated. I’m immediately relieved that this happened overnight. Our employees were safe. Just shock and so much sadness that our business is so broken again,” said Christine Bryant Darling, owner of Hashtag Cannabis.
She said the loss of the merchandise and the cost of repairs would cost tens of thousands of dollars and she will likely have to pay out of pocket because insurance coverage is limited. She says as a pot shop, it is difficult to get adequate insurance coverage.
Hashtag Cannabis has experienced this before: Thieves drive stolen car into marijuana shop in Redmond
Bryant Darling is especially frustrated because this is the fourth time in less than a year that her business has been hit. She says she’s even more frustrated because she believes it could have been prevented. After each incident, she has asked the city to allow her to put up steel posts, called bollards, in front of her business at her own expense. The answer, she says, has always been “no.”
“We had put up eco-blocks after the last break-in of this kind in March. They asked us to remove these eco-blocks. They put up movable planters themselves in the hope that the physical deterrent would be a barrier to repeating such crimes. Unfortunately, this was not the case,” said Bryant Darling.3
The city of Redmond makes further suggestions
Officials in Redmond say they want to help and are doing what they can. But their options are limited.
“The area where the business is located has power, utility and fiber optic lines running under the sidewalks. Installing the bollards there could disrupt power to local businesses,” said Derek Wing, spokesman for the city of Redmond.
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The city suggested other ways to protect the company. Some suggestions were:
- Adding concrete masonry to fill gaps in the front door facade.
- Installation of a steel reinforced door.
- Securing (putting away) products in a safe after business hours.
“We remain committed to working with them to find a solution,” Wing said.
The main entrance is boarded up for now, but Hashtag Cannabis remains open.
Because the car was stolen and the thieves were wearing masks, the San Francisco Police Department has few resources at its disposal.
Anyone with information about this latest crime is asked to call 911.
James Lynch is a reporter at KIRO Newsradio. Read more of James’ stories here. Follow James on Xor send him an email here.
