Burglars cut hole in roof at pawnshop to steal guns, officials say

SHELBY, N.C. — A pawnshop owner in Shelby said burglars cut a hole in the roof to get into the store and steal guns.

Owner Tim Wright told police the suspects first tried to break into American Tactical on Saturday morning, but nothing was taken.

He said they tried again Sunday and got away with 10 guns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is now investigating the crime.

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“To come back the next night, how brave was that?” Wright said.

After cutting a hole in the roof, the burglars dropped a ladder down to the ground 12 feet below.

In less than four minutes, police rushed to the store but the thieves had already escaped.

Wright won't let the theft shut him down, but he'll now keep his guns out of sight and locked away at night.

“You’re not safe until there's no way they can get to them,” Wright said. “We'll buckle down. We'll do what we have to do to keep things going. It's a freedom. We still have the Second Amendment.”

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