SEQUIM — One man is in custody and two men remain at large, accused of burglarizing Coastal Farm & Ranch last Friday and taking 13 shotguns along with other merchandise.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is assisting with the investigation due to the number of firearms stolen, said Sgt. Carolee Edwards of the Sequim Police Department.
Edwards said on Tuesday that three people illegally entered through the front of the store at 990 E. Washington St. at about 5:30 a.m. by breaking the front left glass door with a rock.
The stolen shotguns are at an estimated cost exceeding $9,000 and $2,500 for merchandise, Edwards said. Also stolen were several Dewalt power tools, gloves, clothes and other miscellaneous items.
A pistol case was smashed, cables attached to guns were cut and some merchandise was damaged, she said.
A cost estimate for damage to the store was not available, Edwards said.
The three left through the west side emergency exit, police said.
Christopher Paul Robbins, 53, who lives in the Tacoma area, was arrested at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn by Sequim Police and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Edwards said.
He was booked into the Clallam County jail on Saturday for investigation of burglary and theft of a firearm. He made his first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday and remained in custody on Wednesday on $50,000 bond.
Edwards said both vehicles used during the burglary have been found.
Coastal’s management did not want to comment on the burglary as it is under investigation.
Staff did say the business reopened around 1 p.m. Friday. It was closed after the burglary with the entrance wrapped with a string of yellow police tape.
Law enforcement is not disclosing the names of the two other suspects but said the men are not local.
Detective Sgt. Darrell Nelson said they do not believe the public to be in any danger because of the incident.
Edwards said it remains under active investigation, and one message they hope to convey to criminals is that “we have the resources and will investigate thoroughly, so don’t come into Sequim and commit crime.”
Anyone who has any information about the burglary may call 360-683-7227 or email dnelson@sequimwa.gov.
Coastal opened in May 2017 in Bell Creek Plaza next to QFC.
For more information on the business, visit coastalcountry.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.