Mel's This & That burglarized again

Glass panel broken, three bottles of liquor stolen

WARDEN - Since late July, Mel's This & That was burglarized four times.

The latest burglary was early Sunday morning, Police Chief Ken Krebs said Tuesday.

No arrests were made.

Evidence was collected, he said. Police documented footprints and obtained a blood sample.

Krebs said the blood sample was sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis. It will help to identify a suspect or eliminate possible suspects.

The blood was located inside the business because it appears a suspect was cut on broken glass, he said.

One or more suspects reportedly broke a glass panel on the South Main Street storefront to gain entry, causing someone to be injured, Krebs said.

Store owner Mel Williams said two bottles of tequila and a bottle of rum were stolen. Other bottles were knocked to the floor but did not break.

It will cost at least $400 to replace the glass panel, he said. The four burglaries combined caused more than $22,000 in damages.

"I wish I would have been there," he said.

All the burglaries happened during early morning hours.

"I shouldn't have to be here at all hours," Williams said.

He said he worries someone will get hurt during a burglary.

"The people in this town are getting fed up with it," he said.

Williams said several business owners and employees are worried about being burglarized or being involved in an armed robbery.

The same day Williams' liquor store was burglarized, Five Foods Market was burglarized. It is located a few storefronts from his business.

He said there are too many burglaries happening far too frequently.

The incident remains under investigation. People with information can contact Krebs at the Warden Police Department by calling 509-349-2232.