Would-be thieves use truck to break into pawn shop

Tuesday, WWAY told you about break-ins at several businesses in and around the city, where criminals used rocks or bricks to smash their way in. This time, it was stolen car that got the burglars inside a pawn shop.

“When you hear about a break-in anywhere, you obviously have that uneasiness going on inside,” said Wilmington resident, Meredith Manning.

Just around the corner from where Meredith was sleeping Wednesday morning, someone was smashing their way into Jim’s Pawn and Guns on Oleander Drive.

Wilmington police arrived around 2:30 a.m., shortly after the stores alarm went off. Police said that whoever did this used a truck to back into the back of the building, just to get inside.

Rifles, handguns, AK-57’s, and ammunition are all sold at the shop, causing police to be on high alert. Police said the surveillance cameras were on, but weren’t recording.

Just a block away on Spirea Drive, near Meredith Manning’s apartment, police found what they believe to be the getaway car; a grey GMC truck stolen in an armed robbery on North 11th Street.

“I think it’s a random place that he chose, but unfortunately it was right near our place, but that’s ok we’ll get by,” Manning said.

As for the managers of Jim’s Pawn & Guns, they said nothing was taken from the store and the alarm may have been the key to scaring the would-be thieves away.

The man whose truck was stolen said he was parked behind a vacant house when he was attacked by 3 men and a woman, one of whom had a gun.

Wilmington police said despite what may seem like a recent rash of break-ins, we did see a downward trend in 2008, when there were fewer burglaries than the year before.