Small-town market turns to YouTube to catch thieves
RAVENSDALE, Wash. - A pair of thieves broke into a local market, stealing about $200 worth of beer and cigarettes - causing an uproar.
Because, in the small town of Ravensdale, the store owner and his neighbors are using YouTube to find the two suspects who were caught on camera.
It's the fourth time in seven years that someone has broken into the Ravensdale Market.
This time the thieves smashed the glass door by kicking it in, then grabbing stuff quickly before fleeing the scene.
But unfortunately for the duo who broke in Friday night, people around here know each other really well - and a lot of eyes are watching for them.
Eugene Kim, owner of Ravensdale Market, is a man with a big personality - who knows everyone. He says his customers are his friends.
And his friends got really upset when they found out about the thieves broke into the store Friday night. A pal uploaded the surveillance video to YouTube - and it can be seen below at the bottom of the story.
The thieves' faces and clothing can be clearly seen on the video, which has been viewed about 4,000 times so far. That's about four times more than the population of Ravensdale.
"We don't want Ravensdale to turn into that kind of area, you know?" says Jaclyn Williams, one of Kim's loyal customers. "So we're not going to let it happen. Not let people get away with it."
Kim says it will cost at least $200 to get new glass for the front door.
A fixable problem - but Williams just wants things back to normal, considering she's here a lot.
"It's a good way to bribe the kids to behave themselves," she says. "'I'll take you next door and buy an ice cream.'"
Williams' 5-year-old daughter Samantha is a regular, too.
"I like all the M&Ms and all sorts of stuff," she says.
Samantha watched the YouTube video and said it made her sad.
I didn't know they could break in so easily," she says.
Kim didn't recognize the guys in the video - but he's hoping one of his friends can help solve the crime.
The King County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crime - and if you think you know who broke in, they want to hear from you.
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Watch the YouTube video ...
Because, in the small town of Ravensdale, the store owner and his neighbors are using YouTube to find the two suspects who were caught on camera.
It's the fourth time in seven years that someone has broken into the Ravensdale Market.
This time the thieves smashed the glass door by kicking it in, then grabbing stuff quickly before fleeing the scene.
But unfortunately for the duo who broke in Friday night, people around here know each other really well - and a lot of eyes are watching for them.
Eugene Kim, owner of Ravensdale Market, is a man with a big personality - who knows everyone. He says his customers are his friends.
And his friends got really upset when they found out about the thieves broke into the store Friday night. A pal uploaded the surveillance video to YouTube - and it can be seen below at the bottom of the story.
The thieves' faces and clothing can be clearly seen on the video, which has been viewed about 4,000 times so far. That's about four times more than the population of Ravensdale.
"We don't want Ravensdale to turn into that kind of area, you know?" says Jaclyn Williams, one of Kim's loyal customers. "So we're not going to let it happen. Not let people get away with it."
Kim says it will cost at least $200 to get new glass for the front door.
A fixable problem - but Williams just wants things back to normal, considering she's here a lot.
"It's a good way to bribe the kids to behave themselves," she says. "'I'll take you next door and buy an ice cream.'"
Williams' 5-year-old daughter Samantha is a regular, too.
"I like all the M&Ms and all sorts of stuff," she says.
Samantha watched the YouTube video and said it made her sad.
I didn't know they could break in so easily," she says.
Kim didn't recognize the guys in the video - but he's hoping one of his friends can help solve the crime.
The King County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crime - and if you think you know who broke in, they want to hear from you.
-----
Watch the YouTube video ...
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