‘It’s really intense’: Seattle Men’s and Women’s Chorus on edge after string of burglaries

SEATTLE — A Seattle LGBTQ non-profit was broken into and vandalized four times in four days.

KIRO 7 spoke with the executive director of the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus, Craig Coogan.

The organization is located on the corner of 12th Avenue and East Terrace Street, one of the largest LGBTQ performing arts organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

The men’s chorus was founded in 1979, and the women’s chorus was later established in 2002, both have around 500 total active members.

The non-profit has been operating in its building for 28 years.

On Saturday at about 6:15 a.m., Coogan said one of the non-profit’s members saw shattered pieces of glass on the ground after a large rock was tossed through the front door.

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An hour later, a second incident happened, but this time, someone went inside the building and tried to steal equipment, Coogan said.

“At about 7 p.m., I hear a noise,” he said. “I smell cigarette smoke and I just saw a figure racing out the front door, and I started yelling.”

The non-profit boarded up its doors to protect the building.

But the unsettling incidents didn’t stop there.

Someone cut a hole around the door lock and slid their fingers inside to unlock the door. They stole equipment and monitors on Monday at about 2:15 a.m., Coogan said.

“People over the years have come to concerts and protested,” he shared. “This is part and parcel of the LGBTQ movement and coming out and being accepted in society, but I have never had this level of violence and aggression.”

The non-profit increased its security by purchasing a surveillance camera and motion detectors.

Then on Tuesday, surveillance footage captured the moment when someone tried smashing the front door with a massive rock. The suspect wasn’t able to get inside and later walked away.

Coogan said his building is surrounded by several businesses, however, the non-profit was the only one that saw damage and thefts in that time.

“As the additional incidents started to happen, I’ve become more and more convinced that we’re being targeted,” he said. “We’re on a street with several businesses and no other business had this activity and this level of effort to penetrate and get into our business.”

“It’s really intense,” he continued. “Someone really wanted to get in.”

Coogan said he wants answers.

“I want to know why,” he said. “What is it that you want from us?”

A spokesperson for the Seattle Police Department told KIRO 7 that his detectives are investigating the case and if the non-profit was targeted.

No details on a possible suspect were shared.

It’s not clear at this time if the four incidents were connected, the spokesperson added.

The non-profit later added a security gate outside of the front entrance. Coogan said the four incidents have cost the organization more than $10,000.

While the security measures are needed, he shared, it’s affecting the non-profit.

“We’re a small charity, we just don’t have $10,000 lying around,” he said. “Coming out of COVID, audiences have not returned, inflation, labor costs, putting on a show costs twice as much as it did in 2019.”

“So it’s a very delicate time,” he continued. “But the responsibility of creating a safe space for the staff, to protect our assets was a cost we just had to incur.”

Coogan said he’s asking the community for support as the organization navigates through the uncertainty.

“It’s also very expensive, Coogan explained. “Out-of-pocket is over $10,000 so far.

He said he won’t let the uncertainty and unsettling incidents affect his group.

“We make music that makes a difference,” he said. “We’re going to stand in the power of love and positivity in the face of violence and discrimination and misunderstanding.”

If you’d like to help the non-profit, please click here.

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