‘We need to do something’: Break-ins rise in Seattle’s Wallingford area as business owners consider shared security

SEATTLE — Break-ins are increasing in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood, with police data showing burglaries are up 14% this year and 30% over the past two years. In response, small business owners in the area are now discussing shared private security as they face repeated burglaries and costly damage.

For Floyd McIsaac, who has owned Changes Bar and Grill in Wallingford for 37 years, the recent surge in break-ins has been unsettling. He experienced it for himself on the morning of April 8.

“I’ve been a bartender since I was 21 years old, and not much scares me or used to dealing with people, but that that really frightened me,” he said.

McIsaac arrived that morning to find his back gate busted open and his heavy, metal door pried apart. “It was pretty obvious this was not the first business that they’ve done this to,” he said.

Thieves stole about $1,000 from a hidden cash box and caused roughly $6,000 in damage, according to McIsaac. While Seattle’s Storefront Repair Fund can reimburse up to $3,000 per break-in, he says the emotional impact has lingered. “I’ve been a little leery about coming in here in the morning. I check my cameras to make sure that it’s secure before I come in now. I never did that before.”

Another Wallingford business was hit just days later.

At The Sock Monster, owner Kelly Tremaine says she was alerted to a break-in on her day off. “I heard glass break, and that was that front door,” she said, gesturing.

Tremaine says a woman smashed through double-paned glass before entering the store. “She was shopping for herself,” she said, adding that merchandise, computers and cash were taken, totaling thousands of dollars. “Easily, yes.”

The burglary forced the shop to close for several days for inventory. Still, Tremaine says community support has helped her recover. “It’s just been truly amazing,” she said, noting neighbors donated through a crowdfunding page. “We had gone over the amount that we were asking,” she added.

Despite the support, both business owners say the trend is worsening. “It has been very bad lately,” McIsaac said.

Now, some owners are considering shared private security.

“Maybe getting a private security team that we can all chip in on,” said Tremaine.

McIsaac echoed that sentiment: “If we all, you know, pitch in, we could probably have a security patrol that is around here for a few hours.”

Tremaine said she hopes local leaders focus their efforts on this burglary problem.

“If they care about small business. If they really, truly care about small business, then… we need to do something,” Tremaine said.

The Seattle Police Department says it remains committed to supporting small businesses, noting that patrol officers monitor areas flagged by crime data and respond to burglaries and alarm calls. SPD also encourages business owners to call 911 if they suspect suspicious activity and to attend monthly community safety meetings.