Statesville Nonprofit Broken Into For A Second Time

Update

After the glass door at Iredell COAST Hidden Gem Variety store was smash and $1,000 were stolen, the same suspected person broke into the store again.

While there was nothing taken the second time, extensive damage to the business was done. A GoFundMe has been started to help with replacement costs.

Read below for more break-ins of local businesses in Statesville.

Original Story (6/13)

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Local businesses are being targeted by thieves in Statesville.

“I immediately just felt violated. I knew somebody had broken into the store,” said Amber Lipe.

The Statesville Police Department said seven businesses fell victim to breaking and entering in the last two weeks. Rachel’s Crafty Corner and Ziggy’s Closeouts were two of them.

Ziggy’s Closeouts general manager, Amber Lipe, and owner of Rachel’s Crafty Corner, Rachel Gaitin,  believe their stores were broken into Saturday night. In each case, the thieves took out the security cameras first, before finding the cash.

“It looks like they took like a crowbar or something and just got right into it,” said Gaitin of her cash register.

Gaitin says her safe was also stolen which had about $2,500 in cash.

Statesville PD said patrol has been increased in the area. They have not said if there’s a connection.

No information has been released about a possible suspect. Statesville police say there have been a total of 38 breaking and entering incidents since January.