DEBARY, Fla. – Volusia County deputies say thieves used a truck to smash the front doors of a DeBary convenience store and steal almost $9,000 worth of cigarettes.
Investigators said that the suspects caused an estimated $30,000 worth of damage to the Lil' Sammy's Citgo at 600 S. Charles R. Beall Boulevard, and that 148 cartons of cigarettes were stolen.
Bob Weber, a regular customer at the store, said he's upset to see something like this happen to such nice people.
"It's terrible. They could have gotten somebody killed. For what?" Weber said. "These people work hard for their money. They're up early in the morning, go to sleep late at night."
Exclusive surveillance video obtained by Local 6 shows the burglars wearing "Scream-like" Halloween masks.
Police said they believe the suspects to be men in their 20s, driving a mid-1990s Dodge Dakota extended cab pickup truck.
Sanford police told Local 6 they are investigating a similar incident which they think is related to the DeBary burglary.
At 3:50 a.m. police say three men broke into the Celery Mart located at 1419 Celery Avenue in Sanford. Police said the thieves broke in through a window, and surveillance video shows the three masked men stealing $3000 in cigarettes.
According to police, the suspects may be driving a two-tone extended cab pickup, possibly with damage from the DeBary incident.
Contact police if you have information on the burglars.