JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three GameStop stores in Jacksonville are left to repair thousands of dollars in damage and replace merchandise after a string of burglaries over the weekend. Newly released police reports show burglars used cars to break into the stores and made it out with electronics.
The string of burglaries began around 3am Saturday morning at the GameStop store on 103rd Street. A video with thousands of views on Facebook shows a Kia Soul ramming into the store, multiple people ran in and out with merchandise, then fled in two cars. A burglary report by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says the store was ransacked and several PlayStation items stolen from the shelves.
The report says tire marks and car parts were left on scene.
Burglars then hit the GameStop on Normandy Blvd around 3:30am.
"We hear a crash across the street, we look over, and we see a white car had just crashed into the GameStop. We're like, okay, that happened and then we see another car pull up, and a bunch of people jump out," witness Kendall Doty said.
Kendall Doty says he and a few friends watched it from Waffle House across the street. The police report says a White Kia Optima rammed into the front door and burglary gate of the store. Between four to six people went into the business.
"The door crashed in and was laying in the parking lot. Whatever they wanted inside they knew right where it was," Doty added.
The report says the store's entrance was damaged and business ransacked. About $5,000 in merchandise was stolen. The store is still closed. The suspects fled in a Green Kia Soul last seen driving south on Memorial Park Road. The report says the Kia Optima used to damage the building was a stolen car. GameStop merchandise, a backpack and iPad were found inside. The car's owner says the items did not belong to her.
A third burglary at a GameStop on Applecross Road happened on January 1. The police report says a small black car drove through the front of the store. Three men got away with more than $2,000 worth of XBox Consoles. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says there have been no arrests.
GameStop stores all around the country have been targeted by burglars. GameStop has not responded to any requests for comment. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says it is investigating all three burglaries.