Blaine police investigating burglaries of storage units

The Blaine Police Department (BPD) is investigating after 28 storage units were burglarized at Pantec Mini Storage at 943 Boblett Street in Blaine.

On January 30, Pantec Mini Storage reported that nine individual storage units had been burglarized. The on-site manager had discovered some garbage outside of the wing of the facility’s “B” building, and after checking inside, she found that nine units had their locks cut and had been entered.

“The exterior doors of the storage buildings are not locked,” said a BPD statement on the incident. “It was inside the building that the sliding bolt door latches had been cut by what appears to have been bolt cutters. Three bolt pieces were collected to be sent to the lab for fingerprints and tooling. The lack of activation on the security cameras indicates that the break-ins happened during business hours.”

Two days later, on February 1, an additional 19 storage units were found to be burglarized, according to BPD. “A cut padlock was found near an area suspected of being an access point,” said BPD’s statement. “Additionally, a rubber lock case and four cut dowels were collected as evidence and will be sent for fingerprints and tooling. In direct proximity to the lock and suspected access point, three Marlboro Light cigarette butts were located. They were collected and will be sent for DNA processing.”

The list of items believed to be stolen includes a dirt bike, a Dremel rotary tool, children’s toys and a large safe containing multiple firearms and ammunition. To check that the firearms and ammunition were not moved to another unit within the complex, a U.S. Customs K-9 responded to the scene with a dog capable of locating firearms and ammunition. “Officers are investigating leads resulting from the sniff,” said BPD’s statement.

The firearms suspected of being stolen have been reported and their serial numbers have been entered into a law enforcement database. The investigation remains active, said BPD.

“We have been working very closely with the Blaine Police Department as well as Security Solutions NW,” said a Pantec staff member, who praised BPD’s quick and thorough response to the incidents. “We have taken additional security precautions and are working our hardest to have top security in place,” she added.