Burien gas station hit by smash-and-grab burglars for second time in 4 days

BURIEN, Wash. — Owners of a gas station and food mart in Burien are cleaning up again after its doors and windows were smashed during an attempted smash-and-grab burglary.

Employees said the incident is the second in four days.

The crime happened at the Mobil gas station on Ambaum Boulevard Southwest near Southwest 126th Street Wednesday morning.

Surveillance video from the store shows an SUV pull up. Two people then get out and tie a rope to the front door. The SUV then pulls away, breaking the front door, along with a significant portion of the store’s front wall and window.

The target appears to have been a CoinCloud bitcoin or lottery machine, but the suspects were unsuccessful at getting either out of the store. Employees said there is no cash inside the CoinCloud machine, but there is also a traditional ATM inside the store that was untouched.

Workers said nothing appeared to have been stolen.

The SUV used in the crime was a gray or tan 2016 Kia Sorrento that was stolen in Kent, King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Eric White said.

The burglary was interrupted by a worker, who chased after the Kia in his own car. During the chase, a suspect shot at the worker, whose car was struck by a bullet. The worker was not hurt.

White said a shell casing from the shooting was found at Southwest 128th Street and Fourth Avenue Southwest.

Employees said the family-owned station had just paid $7,000 to replace a large window that was broken on Saturday during a similar incident.

That same window was broken during Wednesday’s burglary.

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