The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is asking the public for information on three recent ‘crash-and-grab’ burglaries of marijuana dispensaries, one of which occurred in Birch Bay.
A black sedan with no license plates that Redmond Police Department verified as stolen backed into the front of Birch Bay Budz in Birch Bay Square just before 6 a.m. December 28, 2024, WCSO public information officer Amy Cloud wrote in an email to The Northern Light. The WCSO was unable to provide how much money was stolen or lost from damages. Four people, including the vehicle occupants, fled on foot after raiding the store.
“We welcome any information from others who may know anything about the theft or the suspects involved,” Cloud said. “Please phone 911 with your information.”
Two other marijuana dispensaries have been targeted over the past couple of weeks. Dank of America’s location just north of Bellingham was burglarized in a similar incident on December 24, 2024, according to KIRO 7, and Between the Ferns in Deming was burglarized about 2:30 a.m. January 3, 2025, Cloud said.
In all cases, the suspects backed stolen vehicles into the businesses during the early morning hours and quickly stole items before fleeing on foot. The WCSO believes the suspects were then picked up in another vehicle that is likely also stolen.
Six people were shown backing into Between the Ferns in a stolen vehicle and then fleeing in a stolen red 2018 Hyundai Elantra. Several law enforcement agencies pursued the vehicle between Skagit County and King County at different times before the vehicle was lost north of Seattle in Shoreline.
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