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Burlington camera store robbed thousands worth of merchandise

Burlington police said over $10,000 worth of merchandise had been stolen.

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Police are looking for the people responsible for the robbery of a Burlington business.

Burlington police arrived at Camera Corner on South Church Street shortly after midnight Tuesday to find a damaged window and over $10,000 worth of merchandise had been stolen.

The store's owner, Ray Bailey said one of the suspects broke the glass at their drive-in window to get into the store.

"They used a hammer to break through the window. They came in with black plastic bags underneath their coats," Bailey said. "I would guess somewhere between $40 and $50,000 because they went directly for the most expensive cameras and lenses that we had."

Bailey said a second suspect waited in a car outside.

Officers said the surveillance video shows the suspects driving away from the business, and the suspect, who was in the store, wearing gloves and a hooded sweatshirt.

Bailey said the suspect in the store seemed exactly where the expensive cameras were located and he believes the suspect had visited the store before the robbery.

"The plus side is no one was hurt, nobody in bad shape or anything like that. Monetarily it won't be fun but it's not the worst thing in the world. Just something that should not happen," Bailey said.

The store was closed on Monday so Bailey and his staff expected to be serving customers during their after-Christmas shopping. Instead, his staff was taking stock of what was missing in between helping shoppers.

Bailey owns the store alongside his son and has worked there since the 1970s. He said this is only the second break-in they'd had in 44 years.

He's optimistic police will find the culprits but he'd like for those responsible to change their focus.

"Realize the season we're in and the reason for it," Bailey said. "Christ came and died and they need to back up and really rethink their life and future and how they're acting. I think in the long run that's gonna be more important than the monetary value of what they stole."

The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information on this investigation call Burlington police at 336-229-3500 or Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100.

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