PORT ANGELES — City police plan to review surveillance camera footage from businesses surrounding an espresso stand along U.S. Highway 101 after someone stole about $250 in cash from the business last week, including $100 bound for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Rebeca Hanson, co-owner of Shot in the Dark Espresso at 1131 U.S. Highway 101, said she came to the stand Thursday morning to find that someone had jimmied open the door, taken about $250 in cash from the register and removed a tablet computer used to process payments.
“It didn’t damage the door at all,” Hanson said, adding that it appeared someone had popped open the door with a credit card or screwdriver.
Hanson said police told her the culprit might be a frequent customer since nothing in the stand was rummaged through.
“They came in, grabbed the money and the tablet, and left,” Hanson said.
“They knew where everything was.”
More locks
Hanson said she reopened the same day and has since installed deadbolt locks on the door.
Brian Smith, deputy police chief, said Friday that officers intend to collect surveillance video footage from surrounding businesses to see if whoever broke in was caught on video.
Hanson said she usually empties the cash register every night but did not Wednesday as she was driving to Seattle after work and did not want to take the money with her.
“Everything was closed the way it should have been,” she said.
Hanson said she had set aside tips collected on Fridays in March as donations for Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County.
The money was sitting in the cash register in an enveloped marked “Habitat for Humanity,” Hanson said.
“I feel awful about it,” she said.
“I had no control about it being broken into, but I feel awful that the money saved is not here.”
‘Big blow’ to business
In addition to the loss of donations, Hanson said, the theft represents a big blow to her business.
“It seems like a very small amount, but it’s not for us,” she said.
“We’ve only been opened less than six months.”
________
Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
