4 Raleigh businesses on New Bern Avenue broken into within minutes of each other
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Thieves broke into three businesses and targeted a fourth during a six minute span early Wednesday morning.
The first incident happened at 3:38 a.m. along North Rogers Lane at Edgewater Pace shopping center.
Surveillance video shows a vehicle pull up in front of SM iFIX Phone. Then, people get out and throw what appears to be a brick or rock at the storefront glass, which they proceeded to kick in.
One criminal is then seen rushing into the businesses, finding the cash register and sprinting out.
"Within 20 seconds they're gone," SM iFix Phone employee MD Hasson said, describing the surveillance video. "We need more safety and more security."
Hasson said the thieves made off with a couple hundred dollars, though police were able to recover the damaged register. The glass door was quickly replaced, and Raleigh police officers were reviewing security footage.
At 3:43 a.m., a WingStop and Kure CBD & Vape were targeted at a shopping center along the 4500 Block of New Bern Avenue. While a thief was able to get inside the WingStop, nobody broke into the vape shop. An employee at Kure CBD & Vape told ABC11 off-camera that the location updated its security following a prior break-in, though its alarm was triggered overnight.
At 3:44 a.m., a Jersey Mike's location at a separate shopping center along the 4100 block of New Bern Avenue was broken into. Its glass remained shattered, though in place, Wednesday afternoon and the location was open and accepting customers.
Knightdale Police Department is investigating two break-ins at restaurants in the town - one at a Subway, the other at Slice of NY Pizza - and working with RPD to determine if there is a connection. At this point, Knightdale investigators suspect there is a connection due to the similarities; though they acknowledged it is only speculation at this point.
This happened just days after Cary police started investigating a string of smash-and-grabs along Cary Parkway. At least four businesses were hit Sunday morning.
It comes two weeks after seven Raleigh businesses were broken into during the overnight hours.
