FLORIDA COMPUTERS STOLEN DURING HURRICANEnbc6.net - News - Handguns, Rifles Stolen From Pawn Shop During HurricaneHandguns, Rifles Stolen From Pawn Shop During Hurricane
Thieves Steal $30,000 In Merchandise

POSTED: 3:20 pm EDT August 30, 2005

WEST PARK, Fla. -- Broward County deputies are searching for a group of people who broke into a pawn shop and stole several firearms Thursday night, during the height of Hurricane Katrina.

A&B Pawn in West Park closed early Thursday because of Katrina's pending landfall. Deputies believe thieves took advantage of the situation to make off with $30,000 in merchandise.

According to Broward Sheriff's Office detectives, sometime between 9 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, a group broke into the shop located on State Road 7.

The assailants cut all power lines leading to the shop and cut off phone service to the building before entering through a side door.

Once inside, the group of thieves grabbed merchandise, including 28 revolvers, semiautomatic handguns, shotguns and semiautomatic rifles. They also stole computers, laptops, TVs, stereo systems, video games, DVDs and a large amount of pawned lawn equipment.

The shop owners discovered the burglary Friday.

According to detectives, a box-type midsize truck may have been used to haul away the stolen goods.

Anyone with information should call Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS