Thieves Break Into Popular West Seattle Taco Restaurant

Owners say losses go beyond cash after burglars target Fire Tacos on Alki

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Thieves were caught on camera breaking into Fire Tacos, a popular taco restaurant in West Seattle's Alki neighborhood, early Wednesday morning. The burglars forced entry through an emergency exit, but did not take any cash. However, they stole sentimental items and iPads, and also damaged the restaurant's security cameras. The owners have filed a police report and are increasing security as they work to keep the restaurant open.

Why it matters

This break-in highlights the ongoing challenges small businesses in Seattle's neighborhoods face with property crime, especially during the off-season when cash flow may be tighter. The owners of Fire Tacos say the impact goes beyond just the stolen items, as they had to work to restore a sense of security and community trust.

The details

Security cameras captured two people breaking into Fire Tacos around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The thieves forced entry through an emergency exit and spent about three minutes inside the restaurant. While they did not take any cash, they stole sentimental items that customers had brought in from their travels, as well as iPads the owners planned to use at a second location they are opening soon in Capitol Hill. The burglars also damaged the restaurant's security cameras.

  • The break-in occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2026.
  • The owners discovered the break-in shortly after the alarm company called them.

The players

Fire Tacos

A popular taco restaurant located on Alki in West Seattle that started as a food truck during the pandemic and recently opened a brick-and-mortar location.

Erika Torres

The co-owner of Fire Tacos, who started the business with her husband Jorge using her grandfather's birria taco recipe.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We did come in, and we did see that the door was broken into. Also multiple cameras as well were broken.”

— Erika Torres, Co-owner, Fire Tacos (fox13seattle.com)

“A lot of sentimental values were taken and a couple iPads.”

— Erika Torres, Co-owner, Fire Tacos (fox13seattle.com)

What’s next

The owners of Fire Tacos say they have filed a police report and are increasing security measures, including adding more cameras, as they work to keep the restaurant open.

The takeaway

This break-in underscores the ongoing challenges small businesses in Seattle's neighborhoods face with property crime, especially during slower seasons when cash flow may be tighter. However, the owners of Fire Tacos are determined to lean on the supportive community that helped build their business to overcome this setback.