Police seek news tips on VFW burglary

The Sequim Police Department continues to investigate the May 7 burglary at Sequim’s Veterans of Foreign War Post 4760 at 169 E. Washington St. but haven’t found any viable suspects.

Staff for the post said $700 was stolen from the bar’s safe, which was accidentally left unlocked by a trusted employee while members met upstairs for a meeting.

A surveillance video, that’s been viewed thousands of times on social media, shows a male suspect around 1:20 p.m. on May 7, climbing through a window into the bar and removing the money and leaving in less than a minute span. Sequim police officers describe the suspect as between 5’5”-5’9” weighing 140-170 pounds with dark hair.

Sgt. Mike Hill said Officer Tony Bush and other officers continue to follow tips including from viewers on social media but none have led to a specific suspect.

If you have more information on the suspect, contact Sequim Police at 683-7227.

The burglary follows Rischelle Lea Heaton, 30, of Port Angeles, allegedly embezzling nearly $10,000 from the post by writing herself 32 checks from November 2016-early March. She pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree theft and 31 counts of forgery and faces a three-day trial scheduled to begin July 17.