By Stacey Tucker (Contact / Staff Bio)
September 5, 2009 - 08:44 a.m. EST

CARO — One Caro business is picking up the pieces after a break-in Monday evening.

Around 11 p.m., Tropic Fish & Pets, located at 415 W. Frank St., was broken into, costing the store approximately $6,000 in damages.

Tim Romain, owner of Tropic Fish and Pets, said the vandals didn’t touch any of their inventory, but tried to break into the cash register and destroyed anything electronic they could get a hold of.

“They threw electronic stuff into our aquariums, and just destroyed anything electronic we had in our store,” he said. “They stole our cameras off the wall, smashed our computer and even ripped the thermostat off the wall.”

“Luckily they didn’t do any heavy damage to our inventory.”

The suspects gained access to the shop through an adjacent apartment, breaking into a glass window and through a wall. Once they gained access to the apartment, they broke into the store through a steel door.

“They must have been kind of familiar with our building,” Romain said.

Romain, a coin collector, said $1,000 worth of collectible coins were taken, and some change was stolen from the register.

“They were trying to get our cash register open and they just beat the tar out of it,” he said. “The cash register records the time on a tape, and it looks like they worked on it for about a half hour.

“They did get some change out of it from shaking it.”

Romain said he did think it was odd that nothing was stolen bigger than the coins.

“They didn’t really steal anything they couldn’t fit in their pocket,” he said. “I think they were just walking.”

Holly’s Hair Design, located at 141 N. State St., was also broken into Monday evening.

Romain said the Caro Police Department has done a thorough investigation and hopes in time the crime will be solved.