PORT ANGELES — Lynn Watts has an unusual message for the people or person who burglarized her hamburger joint at Laird’s Corner on Monday night: “Thank you.”
It isn’t the first time Watts, the owner of Lynn’s Caboose west of Port Angeles, has been burglarized. Over the years, she estimates her restaurant has been hit five or six times.
Each time, she has gotten a little smarter, she said.
So this time, she put up a sign — a very large one — on her reader board at 242751 W. U.S. Highway 101 that makes note of that fact and thanks the burglars.
“I learned a little lesson, so I put a sign thanking the robbers for teaching me a good lesson,” she said.
On Monday night or Tuesday morning, somebody kicked in her back door and took an unsecured cashbox.
Although she didn’t disclose the amount of money in the box, she said she learned her lesson — and said that cashbox won’t be in the restaurant overnight anymore.
At least two other businesses have been burglarized recently.
Alpine Auto and Simpson’s Used Parts, both within a couple of miles of Lynn’s Caboose, were burglarized about two weeks ago, the owners of those businesses said.
Steve Burkett, who owns Alpine Auto at 4318 S. Dry Creek Road, said about 50 or 60 radiators were stolen and that the thieves likely spent about four hours at his business.
Brian Langmack, who owns Simpson’s at 2425 W. U.S. Highway 101, estimated that several dozen radiators were stolen from his firm.
Both owners said the used radiators probably were stolen to be stripped down for the metal.
Clallam County Undersheriff Ron Peregrin said it was unknown if the auto-parts burglaries were related, but because they were within a few days of each other — though he didn’t know which day, and neither did the business owners — and the same things were stolen, he thought it likely that the same person was involved.
“Many times, people who are stealing things like this for the metal are involved in the drug culture,” Peregrin said.
“They are looking for something they can take that they can get a quick buck.”
However, Peregrin said, no connection has been seen between the radiator thefts and the burglary of Lynn’s Caboose’s cashbox.
He suggested that all businesses, whether remote or in a city, not leave any money inside after-hours.
“It is also a good idea to put a sign in at the business that says that no money is left in the business after-hours,” he said.
“You see that a lot in the bigger metropolitan areas.”
He also suggested that motion-activated lights, alarms or anything that might startle or make a thief think twice be installed.
“Anything that might cause them to shy away as soon as they approach,” Peregrin said.
“They won’t want to mess with it if something is coming on as soon as they approach.”
Peregrin also said employers should talk over closing policies with employees.
“You wouldn’t believe how many of the alarms we get are actually just the doors were unlocked and the wind blew them open or something — just a complacent employee or something,” he said.
“If they just review their policy, it could be good.”
The business owners said they are working with police to turn over security footage and other evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to phone the Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2459.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
