Thieves smash into pawn shops for guns

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities in Rockdale and DeKalb Counties are searching for smash-and-grab thieves that left a trail of destruction at two metro pawn shops, all for the sake of attempting to steal guns.

Rockdale deputies said early Wednesday morning, thieves smashed into the Pawn Depot off Old Covington Highway. Video from Pawn Depot shows the burglars rear-ending the building twice with a large truck, then entering into the building and smashing into display cases.

“[The damage was] all for nothing... a couple of empty boxes,” said Elizabeth Langbecker, owner of Pawn Depot. She said the thieves could not access the guns, which were locked away in safes, but caused damage in the thousands to her building and merchandise.

DeKalb County Police believe the same culprits are behind another smash-and-grab theft in the Doraville area, Wednesday morning, as thieves also used a truck to ram through the gate of Ideal Pawn.

Management for Ideal Pawn said the truck smashed through the front of the building, and the thieves left with several antique guns meant for display; the other functioning guns were locked away.

Authorities in both counties are working to tie the thefts to a string of smash-and-grabs aimed at gun shops across metro Atlanta and Georgia.

“It is scary... to go through that, for a few guns,” Langbecker said. “[The guns are] going to end up on the street in the hands of criminals.”

Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office or DeKalb County Police Department.