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Thieves break into Ballard Mandarin

Surveillance video caught two burglars breaking into the family business around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

SEATTLE — Another burglary in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is costing a long-time business thousands of dollars in losses. 

It's the second time in the last month thieves have targeted a business on the same block.

"We're trying to survive just like everybody else, so it's just unfortunate," said Wendy Pham, the manager of Ballard Mandarin.

Surveillance video caught two burglars breaking into the family business around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"It's upsetting since we're a small business - mom and pop shop - and it hurts our business," said Pham.

Pham is frustrated and feels violated after this invasion on her restaurant that is now out $5,000 to $7,000. 

"Some liquor, took some cash, they rummaged throughout the restaurant trying to find any valuables they could possibly get away with," said Pham.

They've been in this Ballard location located on the corner of Market Street and Eighth Avenue for 15 years with few issues with crime, until 2022. 

"This is not the first time we've been broken into,” said Pham. “This has been the third time we've been broken into."

This also isn't the first time a business on this Ballard block has been hit this past month. About three weeks ago KING 5 reported its neighbor, "The Singing Barber," was broken into. Thousands of dollars of barber equipment was stolen during that crime. 

"It's getting really bad in the neighborhood of Ballard,” said Pham.

The numbers may back that up. According to the Seattle Police Department Crime Dashboard, burglaries in Ballard are on pace to surpass both of the previous two years. In the first two months of the year there have been 92 burglaries in the neighborhood. If it stays at this pace burglaries in Ballard are on track to hit more than 550 by the end of the year. 

Despite this growing trend, this restaurant will continue to serve the community. 

"It is our livelihood. And we love our restaurant, we love our customers, and we hope to continue to serve them," said Pham.

The restaurant did contact police about Wednesday morning's crime.

Ballard Mandarin already has security cameras installed and a security alert system in place. But in addition to that, Pham said they're also considering installing a screen or gated doors.

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