SPRINGFIELD, Va. — Police in Fairfax County are asking for help in finding the culprits behind a store burglary in Springfield, Virginia.
An incident at Smoke Bazaar on Backlick Road was captured on surveillance video, and shows a vehicle smashing through the storefront before 1 a.m. on Sunday.
Detectives said four people seen wearing black face masks escaped with about $200 worth of merchandise. They are accused of using a stolen 2013 silver Hyundai Elantra to drive into the shop.
Lt. Jim Curry said they got away in a separate stolen 2019 black Hyundai Elantra.
"I don't have an estimation but you drive a car through the front door of the business, it's going to be quite a hefty bill," said Curry. "It's a lot of damage, unfortunately, an owner who has a business he's trying to operate and a lot of damage and some property he will try to recoup."
Detectives determined the silver vehicle was stolen between Friday night and Saturday night from a parking lot in the 8900 block of Lorton Station Boulevard in Lorton.
The black Hyundai was reported stolen around 11:36 p.m. on Saturday from the 8900 block of Lorton Station Boulevard in Lorton. It was recovered unoccupied on Sunday morning in the 9200 block of Wildwood Lane in Lorton.
"I can't think of a last time something like this occurred but it's unique," added Curry. "We have seen other smoke shops and vape shows that have been burglarized, certainly we've seen recently. We look at this crime and we look at other incidents to see if they are related."
The suspects are described as Black men, 15 to 20 years of age wearing black face masks with one wearing a green jacket.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or others is asked to call our detectives at our Franconia Police District at 703-922-0889. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.