Ballard business owner stops suspected thieves during attempted burglary

A Ballard deli owner says he chased suspects after they rammed his car during an attempted burglary early Saturday morning — roughly two months after the same business was targeted in an attempted break-in.

Steven Saleh, owner of Saleh’s Delicatessen on NW 80th Street in Seattle, believes the same individuals returned after stealing thousands of dollars in property during a burglary in September.

On Sept. 9, around 2:30 a.m., thieves broke into the store and stole a safe, tobacco products, and lottery tickets.

Saleh said the size of the initial theft led him to expect another attempt.

“They took the safe, they took a lot of tobacco, they took maybe $14,000 worth of scratch tickets, so we knew they were coming back, because they got a really good haul the first time,” Saleh said.

The second incident took place around 4:30 a.m. last Saturday when a similar black van parked outside the deli’s reinforced side door.

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Saleh drove to the scene and attempted to block the vehicle with his car before the suspects fled.

“Once they tried to get closer to my car, I then realized it’s the same car that we saw two months ago,” Saleh said. “So, I tried to open my door to, you know, stop them. They just rammed my car and fled.”

Saleh then chased after the fleeing vehicle.

“I had no issue going after them. I was really, really angry,” Saleh said.

Saleh and his daughter, Iman Saleh, have shared surveillance video of the incidents online and received strong community backing.

“Putting this out on social media, all of Ballard, they’ve been giving us so much support and love and kindness and asking us what they can do to help,” Iman Saleh said.

The family has also begun comparing notes with other nearby business owners who reported similar break-ins.

The owner of The Crown cocktail bar reported a break-in three weeks ago, following an earlier burglary in August — just six days after opening. Saleh described the ongoing crime issues in the neighborhood as widespread.

“It’s rampant, it’s everywhere, and it’s out of control,” Saleh said.

Saleh said he will continue to enhance security measures at the delicatessen. KIRO 7 reached out to the Seattle Police Department regarding the burglary investigations, but the department did not respond.