Video surveillance footage from the P&A Pawn Shop heist Friday morning shows two attempts were made at breaking in at the back entrance before deciding to use a tow strap or chain hooked to a dually and pull the front security gate from the building in the 900 block of Roanoke Avenue.

An inside view.

While the Roanoke Rapids Police Department has only released stills from the footage, rrspin.com did review the entire surveillance video this morning at the station.

Footage shows what appears to be a Ford F-350 dually pull up in the back alley of the building. A man dressed in a reflective safety vest, apparently in an attempt to pass as a worker, can be seen trying to pry the back door open. The first attempt failed and the man goes back a second time, using all his weight to pry open the door, at one point both feet off the ground.

When this attempt fails, the truck is driven to the front of the building and some device, either a tow strap or chain is hooked to the gate and truck. Captain Andy Jackson said it appears the driver of the vehicle was spooked before the first attempt.

With the strap attached to the bumper of the truck, the driver makes a U-turn and the security gate comes off, creating sparks as it scrapes across the sidewalk.

The people then break into the store, shattering glass cases and taking jewelry and guns, scooping them into trash cans before leaving the store in the span of 45 seconds.

Another inside shot.

Jackson declined to confirm speculation on social media sites that 50 guns were taken in the break-in.

He did confirm, however, the break-in is not believed to be related to ones previously reported around the Tenth Street area. The pawn shop break-in appears to have been done by professionals who are most likely going to try to sell the weapons, which Jackson said were handguns.

Jackson said it is important for the four or five vehicles which passed the area to call the police department or Crimestoppers with information. “P&A has been in business since 1966 and is about an icon on the avenue. The owners have worked hard to provide products that people want, including guns and musical instruments. They are one of the few places here where you can buy musical instruments. These are not corporate people. They're more like entrepreneurs. It's harder for individual businesses to absorb losses.”

Jackson said the shop is offering a $500 reward that leads to information resulting in the arrest of the people responsible while the police department is offering a $500 reward. Crimestoppers offers up to a $1,000 reward, “so there is the potential for a $2,000 reward.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444, the police department at 252-533-2810 or Detective Jeff Baggett at 252-326-3941.