An image posted on Lucky No. 3 Tattoo Company’s Facebook page shows damage from a burglary reported early morning on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
Three businesses — two of them tattoo parlors, and all of them in the 100 block of North Tower Avenue — were burglarized within a few days, the Centralia Police Department reported.
A total value of items taken wasn’t available Monday, but police say the burglar or burglars made off with tattoo guns and ink from both of the shops.
On Friday morning, police received a report of burglaries to both Phantom Tattoo and the antique store next door.
Police believe the culprit or culprits broke into the antique shop believing it was Phantom Tattoo, said Sgt. John Dorff. A back entrance to the antique shop that faces Railroad Avenue was broken into, however the tattoo shop next door doesn’t have a back entrance. The fact that nothing but the back entrance was disturbed led police to suspect the antique shop wasn’t the intended target.
Phantom Tattoo was then broken into from the entrance facing Tower Avenue, said Dorff. Tattooing equipment and a handgun were stolen from the business.
A third burglary was reported at 3:35 a.m. Sunday at Lucky No.3 Tattoo Company. The business was broken into through the storefront, and more tattooing equipment was stolen. Dorff said reports indicate it was mostly ink that was stolen.
A post on Lucky No.3’s Facebook page includes a photo of a shattered window and strewn glass.
“Things could have been much worse, and we are still able to tattoo with what we have. The artwork lost is the only irreplaceable thing,” reads the post.
Dorff said there are suspects in mind, but that he couldn’t comment on the suspects further, citing the open investigation.
Considering the similarity in the burglaries and the items that were taken from both businesses, police believe the same person or people committed all three burglaries, said Dorff.
Representatives from the two tattoo shops did not respond to requests for comments as of press time.
