Phillip Phillip's father says it's a good thing he wasn't inside his pawn shop when thieves crashed through the wall with a backhoe. Donny Phillips is licensed to carry a handgun and typically sleeps in the store.
We now know those thieves got away with thousands of dollars worth of guns and jewelry. They used a stolen backhoe to smash into Albany Sporting Goods and Pawn on East Oglethorpe Monday night or Tuesday morning.
"Right now we're just going through inventory to find out what all they did steal," said Donnie Phillips.
A wooden board covers the door and part of the wall smashed in by the crooks who used a stolen WG&L backhoe to break inside.
"They just seemed to get the right thing to bust the back wall in," said Phillips.
The heist would net thousands of dollars worth of stolen items.
"They got a pile of jewelry, coins, guns, TV's, rod and reels. Just a lot of stuff," he said.
An empty rack sits that once contained a row of rifles and rings and necklaces were swiped from broken glass jewelry cases.
"You can replace material things," said Phillips.
Luckily, the burglars bypassed Phillip Phillips' lucky stuffed turkey made popular on the hit show and his autographed guitars.
"It's important to me and my family," he said.
Things that can't be replaced. Donnie said his son is recovering well from his recent surgery and is aware of the break-in.
"He shook his head and said, Dang, Daddy I hate to hear that." Donnie said, "Well, that's how some people in the world are."
Surveillance cameras were rolling and Phillips says he believes whoever did this cased out the shop. Licensed to carry, he says they were lucky he wasn't sleeping inside when in it happened.
"I was at the right place at the right time. There ain't no telling what would have happened if I had been up here," he said.
Phillips says when the crooks are caught he wants to see a unique form of punishment. "If they catch them, I hope I can get a check every month. I don't care if it's a dollar a month so it will remind that person or those persons to see what they've done and see what road they're going down."
And because this pawn shop was featured on American Idol he says calls have been coming in from all over the country. The one call they're hoping for though is one that will give police the tip they need.
As for Phillip Phillips, Donnie says he's recovering well from kidney stone surgery. He's gearing up for a July 4th performance and hopes to be back in south Georgia this Christmas.
Anyone with information about the break in is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 436-TIPS.
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American idol winner Phillip Phillips
Donnie Phillips
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