Store owner says masked burglars intentionally crashed into pawn shop

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Police in Matthews are looking for the burglars who crashed an SUV into a pawn shop early Monday morning.

[PHOTOS: SUV slams into Matthews pawn and gun shop]

Officers responded to Beltway Gun and Pawn on East Independence Boulevard around 2:45 a.m. and told Channel 9 that masked burglars intentionally rammed the SUV into the building.

Detectives said the suspects blew past speed bumps and vehicle barriers before smashing through the front of the shop.

The store owner told Channel 9 that he's checking his inventory but doesn't believe anything was stolen, including guns.

"It's just a let down that somebody would do that,” resident Al Bridges said. “Just drive a car through the building.”

The damage included display cases knocked over, destroyed merchandise and glass and brick scattered throughout the store.

"It's pretty extensive,” resident Dirk Mathis said. “I mean, the whole wall is gone."

Police have not made any arrests and no surveillance images have been released.

Cox Media Group