By Matthew Nash
Olympic Peninsula News Group
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate two burglaries at local groceries.
Sunny Farms Country Store, 261461 U.S. Highway 101 in Carlsborg, was burglarized at about 4 a.m. July 19, and Agnew Grocery, 2863 Old Olympic Highway, Port Angeles, also was burglarized sometime over Sunday night, reported Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King.
Surveillance photos captured brief glimpses of the burglars at Sunny Farms. They were carrying a sledgehammer, pry bar and a tan backpack.
Deputies said the burglars, at least two, were small enough to fit through a 16-inch-by-20-inch hole they made in the back of the store.
“With the tools they had, it indicates to us they had a specific target within the business,” King said.
“They were looking to work and take something like a safe.”
Managers and deputies report nothing was reported stolen.
King said they might have fled the scene due to security alarms going off.
A deputy also arrived on scene within nine minutes of the alarm sounding, he said.
At Agnew Grocery, King said a burglar cut a hole in the floor of the business with a power saw to access it.
Inside, the burglar stole about 20 packs of cigarettes, Camel and Marlboro brands, 20 lighters and the security system, he said.
Deputies report they found sawdust and dirt deposited throughout the store.
King said the Sheriff’s Office continues to analyze if the burglaries are connected, but for now “there is no evidence they are linked.”
Despite the break-ins, both stores remained open following the burglaries the next day.
King said they are following leads on the Sunny Farms case but request the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals in the security photos and/or providing information on both burglaries to the Sheriff’s Office via Detective Sgt. Eric Munger at 360-417-2576 or dispatch at 360-417-2459.
Anonymous tips also can be left for the Sheriff’s Office at https://websrv7.clallam.net/cnmaster-c/nwformeml.php.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office seeks the identities of burglars who broke into Sunny Farms on July 19. To provide information, contact Detective Sgt. Eric Munger at 360-417-2576 or Dispatch at 360-417-2459.
