MOSES LAKE — Several Moses Lake businesses were burglarized over the past several days.

There are similarities between some of the incidents, Moses Lake Police Capt. Jim Jenkins said. Physical evidence was collected and sent to the crime lab, he added.

Furniture West Sales Representative John Qurin said the break at his work leaves him irritated. The burglar ripped open the safe and took just under $1,000, he added.

Sometime Friday night a subject reportedly entered the furniture store on west Broadway Avenue and stole cash from a safe. The subject gained entry by prying open the main entrance door, police reported.

The alley way door to Farmers Insurance on south Ash Street was allegedly kicked in but nothing was stolen. The door is irreparable.

It was reported Monday morning the back door of Hardrock Flooring Installation on east Third Avenue was kicked in, according to Jenkins. An interior door leading to an office was also forced open and file cabinets appeared to be searched. The burglary possibly happened sometime between Saturday morning and Monday morning.

"It seems like we're losing our small town atmosphere," said Ernie Derricott, labor manager at Hardrock Flooring Installation.

The burglary leaves him feeling unsafe, he said. It looked like someone was looking for money but didn't find any, he added.

The window of Skaug Bros Carpet One on east Third Avenue was broken out and cash was taken sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, police reported

Sometime Monday night, a subject attempted to steal an air compressor from the Columbia Basin Herald. There were no signs of forced entry.

Publisher Harlan Beagley does not believe the break-in at the Herald is related to the other business break-ins.

"There's no money kept at the Herald," he said. "We're not that type of business."

It is unfortunate people resort to theft, he added.

Jenkins urges citizens to contact the police department for any suspicious activity in the business district.