Windows smashed at 2 Stratford Road businesses

MOSES LAKE - Two businesses along Moses Lake's Stratford Road were broken into early Wednesday morning, with criminals gaining entry by throwing large rocks through windows.

The liquor store, 933-A N. Stratford Road, had a double-paned window smashed just before 3:30 a.m., while officers found five broken windows at the furniture store Aaron's, 140 W. Valley Road, seven minutes later.

"I was very upset," liquor store owner Sun Ventura said. "I guess they aren't good enough to kick it in."

Ventura, who owns the business with her husband Mike, said suspects allegedly took an arm to a shelf of miniature liquor bottles and swept them away.

Roughly a dozen other larger bottles were also reported missing, as well as a shot glass and food items.

"This has never happened in my life," she said. "I come into a new town and have this thing happen ... how do you feel secure?"

Joe Erickson, general manager of Aaron's, said nothing was reported missing from his store.

The store is targeted every six months or so, he said, the last time being just after Christmas last year.

"You never get used to it, but we thought that we had the proper precautions after last time," he said. "It's pretty ridiculous that we live in such a small community and yet this continues to happen."

Moses Lake police officials said Wednesday afternoon that it's unclear if the two crimes are related.