The UNHEARD Cry of Seattle's Small Businesses: Battling Endless Break-Ins

In Seattle, business owners face a harrowing reality: rampant property crime with little to no government intervention. This bleak scenario is epitomized by Matt Humphrey, owner of Ballard's Seal Barber and Spa, who has suffered four break-ins in two years. Similarly, MK Burn, a jewelry store owner, has been broken into seven times in just two and a half years, even resorting to sleeping in her store with her dog for protection. These frequent incidents, often caught on camera, have left the business community disillusioned and frustrated with the city's response. Many, like Humphrey, feel trapped in a cycle of crime and inaction, with moving out of Seattle posing a financial risk akin to bankruptcy. This sentiment echoes across the city, as business owners call for urgent, effective measures to combat the surge in retail theft and break-ins, a situation they believe is exacerbated by soft crime policies and a failing legal system. As businesses struggle to stay afloat, the question looms: will Seattle's leadership rise to the challenge?