SPOKANE, Wash. — A downtown Spokane bake shop is struggling to keep employees amid constant car break-ins.

Workers at Sweet Frostings pay to use a privately-owned parking lot across from the shop. They say their cars are constantly being broken into.

Owner Jessica Atkinson says they have experienced crime downtown the entire time they’ve been open, but it has never been as bad as it is right now.

“We can’t afford to keep fixing our windows and we don’t feel safe parking in their parking lots”, Atkinson said.

People who work at sweet frostings say it’s not uncommon to see broken glass from employee’s cars in their parking lot.

“In the last 3 months it’s been almost a weekly thing, we get either our windows broken or attempted robbery, somebody trying to open somebody’s door when they trying to sit inside their car,” Atkinson said.

On Thursday, one employee was sitting inside of her car, when someone tried to break in.

“I was parked at the top of the parking lot, and I usually take my breaks out in my car for my lunch. I was having my lunch break and next thing I know my doors are opening and somebody is trying to get into my car,” said Nikki Martin, an employee at the shop.

Martin says while the man didn’t take anything or hurt her, the experience left her shaken up.

“We’re very vigilant about it but we shouldn’t have to be. We should just know our cars are safe, we pay for this lot, and employees pay good money to be able to work, where elsewhere you don’t have to do that”, Martin said.

The store pays two thousand a month to use the parking lot. They’ve tried to set up security measures of their own, but can’t because they don’t own the lot. they say the company that does, won’t do anything to help.

Now, they’re trying to raise extra money to help employees pay for repairs.

“We’re paying another 300 per window broken into. And I have one employee who’s been broken into three times in the last month,” Atkinson said.

The store just set up a tip jar to help pay for repairs.

“We’ve made about $50 in 2 days so that’s been really amazing, I’d love to raise more to pay for somebody’s window. It’s a constant issue and it’s very expensive,” said Atkinson.

While customers have been supportive, the store still struggles to retain employees who worry their own cars will be next.

The store has reached out to the company that owns the parking lot and was told they don’t use protective measures like security cameras or fences. Diamond Parking also said that because it’s their property, Atkinson can’t set up security measures of her own.

“We have had probably over $3,000 in the last couple of months in window break-ins, and our employees can’t afford that. We can’t afford to pay it for them. We are trying desperately to raise funds to repair those break-ins,” Atkinson said.

Now, they’ve set up a GoFundMe to raise the $3,000 in damages that employees have racked up. They’re also collecting money in a tip jar that reads “car break-in fund.”

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