PORT ANGELES — Two more Eighth Street businesses reported property damage from a rash of commercial burglaries that apparently occurred Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Nine businesses had reported burglaries or attempted burglaries between the 300 and 900 blocks of East Eighth Street as of Tuesday afternoon, Port Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Brian Smith said.
Police said the burglars disabled or attempted to disable power to the businesses, all of which sustained property damage.
Cutting power to businesses is unique, police said.
“We have not discovered parallel patterns anywhere else,” Smith said.
Some businesses reported stolen items; others reported substantial property damage, Smith said.
Investigators believe the burglaries occurred after 8 p.m. Saturday.
“We don’t have any security camera information at this point,” Smith said.
Business owners who suspect that their power was turned off over the weekend should phone the Port Angeles Police Department, Smith said.
A burglary occurs when someone enters a building with the intent to commit a crime, such as theft. Police said damage to some of the businesses would constitute felony malicious mischief charges, too.
“It’s a pretty serious crime,” Smith said.
Anyone with knowledge about the crimes or the suspects is asked to call the Port Angeles Police Department at 360-452-4545 or North Olympic Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
North Olympic Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest and filing of felony charges, Smith said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
