EVERETT — Burglars hit an Everett video game store last week, and the owner is offering $500 for help identifying the suspects.
He’s got pictures and video, too.
Matthew Martin, 36, opened Next Level Video Games at 1913 Hewitt Ave. in 2008.
Surveillance cameras installed a few years ago showed the break-in, which happened about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.
The thieves couldn’t jimmy the door so they kicked in two glass windows. The window repairs alone will cost $2,000, Martin said Monday.
An employee discovered the mess when the business was readying to open Thursday morning.
The burglary is under investigation, Everett police officer Aaron Snell said. The initial report has been forwarded to detectives.
Martin, who also works as a corporate sales manager for Comcast Arena, reviewed the surveillance video and posted clips to his store’s Facebook page.
For some reason, the burglars didn’t set off the store alarm. Martin’s working with the alarm company on that, he said.
“It was two guys. They were covered up pretty good, which makes me think they did know there are cameras,” he said.
One of the burglars climbed in through a broken window. His buddy seemed to wait outside.
“He was in the store for maybe two and a half minutes and just grabbed as much as they could fit in three or four backpacks,” Martin said.
When one of the burglars took off his sweatshirt, ostensibly to hold loot, his face was revealed to the video camera.
Several new and used video-game consoles were stolen, Martin said. The store doesn’t make much money off consoles and doesn’t keep many in stock.
Martin estimates the stolen property was worth $700.
“It’s definitely a very painful thing when we’re a business that does $400 in sales a day,” he said. “I’m a penny-pincher. There was a good hour where my blood was boiling.”
No vehicle was seen in the video, so Martin wonders if they crooks live nearby.
He’s offering the reward money for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone who recognizes the men in the photos or video is asked to call Everett police at 425-257-8450. Tips can be anonymous.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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