Man allegedly breaks windows to two shops to steal vape, cigarettes

A 39-year-old man was arrested by Lacey police after he allegedly broke the windows of two different stores to steal cigarettes and vape products.

Lacey police arrested Christopher J Kenney, of Westport, on March 1.

According to one police report, officers were dispatched to a Driftwood Vapor vape shop along Martin Way after a duress alarm.

Police arrived at the scene and saw broken glass in front of the store. They also found a large piece of concrete believed to have been used to break the glass, as well as a damaged display case for vape products.

A store employee provided police with surveillance footage showing a suspect—wearing a neon reflective jacket and dark pants with large horizontal stripes—breaking a window with a piece of concrete then grabbing multiple items.

Police later located the suspect, identified as Kenney, who said he came to Lacey to look for a “rare black and white bird.” The suspect also said he was on his way back to Seattle.

Kenney showed several cigarettes and vape products inside his bag to an officer, who took a photo of the goods. The Driftwood Vapor employee said the vape products belonged to the store.

The officer informed Kenney that he was under arrest for burglary, prompting the suspect to become “more and more agitated,” telling police, “I don’t agree to anything. I want a lawyer” and “I’m not talking to you. I want my lawyer.”

According to another police report, a Shell gas station employee said she arrived at work and found a broken window in the northeast side of the store. She also noticed that several packs of cigarettes and sweets, worth a total of $116, were missing.

An officer said surveillance video showed the suspect walking up to the window, breaking it, and grabbing multiple items before fleeing.

The gas station employee likewise confirmed that the items in Kenney’s possession were the same ones taken from the store.

Kenney was booked at the Thurston County Jail for second-degree burglary.

Previously, the Lacey Police Department said in a Feb. 24 press release that six burglary incidents involving broken windows had been reported since Feb. 15.