NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - Two dozen weapons are illegally on the streets after thieves broke into a gun shop in North Augusta.

An infrared camera in the Yard Store on Edgefield Road has given investigators an idea of who stole the guns Wednesday morning. Although they can't see their faces they think there were four burglars involved.

“Twenty-six guns stolen in nine minutes in and out,” Steven Bayazes said.

That's all the time it took for thieves to break into Bayazes North Augusta store and get away with guns worth $35,000.

“The front door was knocked out with a 12-pound sledge hammer,” Bayazes said.

He says an infrared camera installed in the store shows four burglars breaking in and getting away with more than two dozen guns.

“Glass everywhere, bricks through the showcases, sledgehammer outside...they got $900 pistols, $1000 pistols,” Bayazes said.

The thieves busted out two cases. Although they took thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, some of the most valuable inventory was left.

“It was a $6000 pistol in plain view. The others were right behind them. They don't call them dumb crooks for nothing, do they,” Bayazes said.

He believes he'll see the guns again. That's because investigators told him they think the thieves who robbed him are likely a group they've had their eye on for a while.

“Oh yeah, they’ll be back. The police know who did it,” Bayazes said.

The burglars also tried to steal the cash register with cash and checks inside but dropped it and left the money in the parking lot.

Bayazes is offering a $1000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest.

Wednesday a representative from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosive was at the store taking inventory of what was stolen.

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