SNOQUALMIE – Snoqualmie police officials believe a series of burglaries in the city during the past couple of weeks may be connected.

Five burglaries, all at businesses along Center Boulevard in the Snoqualmie Ridge neighborhood, have led police to believe that the same person or persons may be responsible.

The first four burglaries happened on the night of July 22 or the early morning hours of July 23. As businesses opened up shop later that morning, Bibo’s Coffee, the UPS Store, Angel Nails and Uncle Si’s Pizza all called the Snoqualmie Police Department to report they had been robbed sometime after closing the night before. The front-door locks had been screwed off and while there was no major damage, anywhere from $50 to $1,000 had been taken from each business. A camera inside Uncle Si’s Pizza later showed someone inside the restaurant, but a positive identification was not made.

The most recent burglary occurred sometime in the late-night hours of Aug. 5 at Georgio’s Subs. Just before midnight on Aug. 6, a Snoqualmie police officer was doing a check of the businesses on Center Boulevard when he noticed the front door of Georgio’s had been shattered. The officer entered the business but found no one inside. After contacting the business owner it was discovered that the suspect had gone after money where it used to be kept in the store, but came away with none since the money had been moved to another location. Damage was limited to the front door, which was shattered because it had a better lock, and a wall that was punctured with whatever was used to break the front door window.

Snoqualmie Police Chief Jim Schaffer said the city has been working with other Eastside police departments in the investigation. He said there has been a recent increase of burglaries on the Eastside and that a collaboration with other agencies may reveal additional clues. He said whoever is responsible for the Snoqualmie burglaries is probably familiar with the area.

Schaffer said the police department has been encouraging the businesses hit to get and use alarm systems. The department believes the officer that came across the break in at Georgio’s may have missed the perpetrator by a matter of minutes.

Schaffer also encouraged residents to contact the police department if they see anything suspicious or have any leads. The department would much rather get a lead that turns out to be nothing than not hear about something that could have prevented a crime.

“They [Snoqualmie residents] are our eyes and ears,” Schaffer said.

Ben Cape can be reached at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at ben.cape@valleyrecord.com.