Attempted Burglary at Eureka-Based Cannabis Distro
Would-be burglars attempted to gain entry into a Eureka cannabis distro in the early hours of April 22, 2025, however, a robust security system and quick-responding officers from the Eureka Police Department had the attempted burglars fleeing the scene.
Redheaded Blackbelt obtained surveillance video of the attempted break-in where six suspects entered onto the business property, where two of the suspects, armed with bright yellow crow bars, attempted to pry open a door to the business. Three other individuals can be seen on the surveillance video on the perimeter of the business.
With the alarm blaring and the cameras recording, the suspects abandoned their nefarious plans and casually walked off.
EPD was notified immediately of the attempted burglary, responding quickly. Additional area law enforcement also responded to the call, providing assistance to EPD, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), the Arcata Police Department (APD), and the Fortuna Police Department (FoPD). Redheaded Blackbelt has confirmed that several of the suspects have been located and arrested, however the investigation is ongoing.
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in cannabis business burglaries across California. According to MJBizDaily, licensed cannabis operators in the state reported 329 burglaries with losses in 2022—more than double the 147 reported in 2021. This alarming trend has persisted into 2023 and 2024, with hotspots including Humboldt and Mendocino counties experiencing clusters of break-ins involving multiple suspects and organized theft rings.
In 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the arrest of 22 individuals tied to organized burglaries targeting cannabis businesses across nine counties, underscoring the scale and coordination of some of these crimes.
However, the suspects’ attire may suggest inexperience. One individual was seen wearing a distinctive, bright reddish-pink sweatshirt with white floral pattern, while another used his sweatshirt to cover his hands—an apparent, if inefficient, attempt to avoid leaving fingerprints. Several suspects were wearing open-toed slides, further indicating a lack of preparation for a quick retreat. The burglars appeared ill-prepared for the task, particularly in the face of the distribution center’s robust security system and the swift response from law enforcement, which led to several arrests within hours of the attempted break-in.
In a text exchange with Redheaded Blackbelt, an owner of the business expressed immense gratitude for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement across the county.
Additional surveillance video has been obtained depicting the attempted burglary from another angle showing vehicles that the owner states was involved in the thwarted attempt to gain access to the cannabis distribution company. At this time, it is unclear if the person on the bicycle was involved or not.
If you have any information on this incident, please contact EPD at 707-441-4300.
