SEATTLE — Following two major break-ins recently, one of Seattle’s most well-known and popular pot shops has added barriers outside its location to thwart burglars in any possible future crimes.

Kemp’s Cannabis, owned by Seattle Supersonics legend Shawn Kemp, has installed several large flower planters in front of its store on 1st Ave in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.

Each planter box is at least three feet wide and five feet long, fortified at their bases by concrete.

Kemp’s Cannabis is the latest pot shop in Seattle to install barriers outside its location because of the looming and growing threat posed by thieves who deliberately crash into businesses in an attempt to gain entry inside those stores.

“It just sucks to see (these crimes) happen,” said Carter Wilson, manager of Kemp’s Cannabis. “You’d think people would respect what we’re doing, but they don’t.”

The extra safeguards come as Kemp’s Cannabis suffered two major break-ins in the course of a month, with both instances leading to exorbitant damage costs, as well as the loss of merchandise.

“It just sad, because we work so much (here), it feels like a second home,” said Wilson. “It’s the same feeling as if you were away and you see someone breaking into your house.”

In January, a burglar used an axe, and what appeared to be the hydraulic rescue tool known by firefighters as the “jaws of life” to break through the glass and gates of Kemp’s Cannabis. Once inside, the burglar went to the ATMs where he was seen prying them open with the jaws of life to pull out the cash. He then carried the money to his vehicle before returning once again to grab merchandise, break display cases, and take more items. Surveillance video showed the burglar was inside the business for 20 minutes.

Less than a month later, the store was the scene of a second high profile burglary. In that case, suspects used a Hyundai to ram the shop’s door. Surveillance video from inside the business showed several people entering with bags they then filled with merchandise. After exiting the building, they got into a second vehicle and fled. Store workers said the stolen product and damage totaled $25,000 in losses.

According to perimeter security consultant Rob Reiter, one of the main reasons why “crash and grab” cases are happening at pot shops is that pot shop workers are arming themselves against danger. As a result, he said crooks are avoiding confrontation by committing crimes when nobody is around.

“You take your pickup, you blow through the doors, knock it off the foundation… you’re in and out in 35, 40 seconds,” Reiter said.

By Reiter’s estimate, five “crash and grab” cases now happen nationwide every single night.

Reiter told KOMO News some cities like Houston, Texas have required stores to either place ATMs in the back of shops or to install bollards in front of entrances.