Police: Group of children use stolen car in smash-and-grab robbery

MORROW, Ga. — A Clayton County pawn shop is in cleanup mode after a group of children broke in by driving a car through the shop.
 
The incident happened early Wednesday morning at Southland Pawn and Jewelry on Jonesboro Road in Morrow.
 
General manager Ronald Barner released surveillance video of the incident, which happened at 3:45 a.m.
 
In the video, a stolen white car is seen crashing through the store at a high rate of speed. About seven children then get out of the car and start taking items.
 
"By their height, I'm thinking preteen, 10 or 12.  And that's what's more shocking," said Barner.
 
One of the burglars appeared to have a hammer in his hand, but did not use it.
 
The store's manager, Ron Barner, says he was asleep when he first got the call. He said it was the first robbery at his store in 27 years.
 
"I got a call last night that the alarm had gone off, and we came out and a car had driven right through the middle of the pawn shop," said Barner.
 
Police hauled off the stolen car and collected evidence, including fingerprints.
 
Barner said the burglars took about $30 in goods, but left behind about $30,000 in damage.
 
"They didn't even get anything. Very minimal. It's just sad," Barner said.
 
Barner and his team spent Wednesday morning cleaning up the damage. Shattered glass covered the floor from where the car drove through the front door.
 
"Nothing is significant because nobody was injured. That's the most important thing. No one was in the store at the time. Even the people who came through here, no one was injured. Everything in here can be replaced. It is what it is," said Barner.
 
More than all the damage, the manager said he's really upset about the age of these children involved.