'They stole my hope': Gastonia store owner says thieves stole $30K in jewelry

GASTONIA, N.C. — Thieves broke into a Gastonia jewelry store Thursday morning, smashed display cases and stole $30,000 worth of jewelry, authorities said.

The store owner, Sonny Horne, told Channel 9 that thieves pried open the door to his business on East Franklin Boulevard around 2 a.m. and hit four display cases.

"They took my hope". Thieves break into a Gastonia jewelry store & steal $30,000 worth of jewels. The owner stands near shattered displays. pic.twitter.com/dBtX7zJU3T
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) December 22, 2016

The burglars stole $30,000 worth of jewelry, mostly rings that Horne personally designed.

Horne, who has been in the jewelry business since 1995, said his store, Independent Casting, has been at its current location since September.

“They took my hope,” Horne told Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon. "I think it's heart-wrenching."

The thieves shattered the display cases and took sterling silver jewelry and several trays filled with gold rings.

Horne told Lemon that the jewelry was not insured.

"It's a personal robbery. They just took 30 or 40 percent of my means, because I don't have a big bank account," Horne said.

Horne had a message for the robbers.

"Stop stealing. Get a job. I know this is not going to happen, but bring me my merchandise back," Horne said.

Police want to know if that robbery may be related to an attempted robbery at South Gastonia Pawn.

In that case, surveillance cameras captured five people with backpacks trying to break a glass door at the shop, which is an old bank building.

(Click PLAY to watch surveillance video from South Gastonia Pawn)

The glass is reinforced. It shattered, but didn't crumble.

The assailants left empty-handed.

There were surveillance cameras at Horne's store. He is trying to get in contact with the security company so he can share images of the thieves in hopes of finding those responsible.

(Watch Ken Lemon's Facebook live from inside the jewelry store below)