Crime wave strikes Silverdale businesses

It was a case of smash and grab of $2,300 from six Silverdale retailers.

According to Sheriff’s reports, Americana Coffee House, Healthy Exercise, Charly Boots and Western Wear, Benita’s Bridal Shop Inc., Minute Man Printing and Red Wing Shoe Store all were burglarized Wednesday night. The suspects entered all six stores through the front doors by breaking the door locks.

“It’s really devastating, especially for small businesses like us,” said Rachael Melton, owner of Americana Coffee House.

The suspects who burglarized Americana Coffee House on Silverdale Way took a Sentry fire safe used to hold the till money and deposits, as well as a lap top computer. Melton estimated the safe — a small, hand-carried model — contained about $500. Melton now plans to install an alarm system and a safe that can’t be picked up. She remains light-hearted toward the incident and has plans to put several items on special for a “robbery sale.”

Healthy Exercise, also located on Silverdale Way, had several items taken including a $200 laptop computer, a Palm Pilot and approximately $50. They are currently finding ways to keep it from happening again.

Charly Boots and Western Wear owner Charly Lim was contacted by deputies regarding the burglary of his shop on Silverdale Way. Lim discovered $80 missing from the front register and $160 missing from a deposit bag in the office. The suspect only took cash and refrained from stealing numerous expensive silver belt buckles as well as high-priced footwear near the front door.

“The building manager will put a camera system up and we plan to install an alarm system,” Lim said.

Deputies also discovered Benita’s Bridal Shop Inc. had been burglarized after they began to check businesses along Silverdale Way for more burglaries. The drawers behind the counter had been ransacked and the back office door was kicked open and ransacked. Approximately $500 had been taken as well as a 17-inch Envision flat screen monitor.

Minute Man Printing, which is in the same complex as Benita’s, also had several items missing. The perpetrators stole $450 from a money bag and $50 from the register. One roll each of quarters, dimes and nickels also was taken.

The suspects continued their crime spree and stole $406 from the cash drawer at Red Wing Shoes Store. Numerous boots also had been thrown around in the back room.

Ten downtown businesses on Bainbridge Island recently were hit in an after-hours burglary spree. Sheriff’s detectives plan on contacting Bainbridge Police as part of follow-up inves

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