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Robbers take off with guns during pawn shop break-in

Police search for men who robbed pawn shop
Posted at 11:31 PM, Feb 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-15 06:51:40-05

Bartow police are searching for the four men who broke into the Bartow Jewelry and Pawn Shop early Sunday morning and took off with several guns.

Police think the men used a bat to break in through the store's impact-resistant glass door.

Surveillance footage shows the men, with faces covered, taking off with a rifle, handguns and shotguns.

"Knowing that there's firearms on the street where they don't belong makes me a little nervous as a citizen," said Erik Jenkins, who owns the shop.

Last month, robbers broke into at Rapture Guns and Knives in Lakeland.

Thieves took 40 guns, prompting Sheriff Grady Judd to call on store owners to harden security at their stores.

Jenkins is already planning to add more security to his shop.

"I'm probably going to be putting bars back on the windows," he said.

Bartow police are looking for help identifying the suspect involved and ask anyone with information to call (863) 534-5040 or Crime Stoppers at 1 800-266-TIPS.