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MORONI, Sanpete County — A rash of burglaries has a small Sanpete County community concerned and a little confused.
What residents in Moroni can't figure out is why thieves keep breaking into the local hardware store. But police believe surveillance video is going to finally bust these crooks.
Moroni Feed Hardware has been burglarized four times in the past few months. Sanpete County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Aagard is investigating the crimes.
"They are spending a short amount of time in there, just a couple of minutes, grabbing a few items, and back out again," Aagard said.
What the burglars don't know is a surveillance system was installed after the second break-in, and they were caught on video on April 11 and April 24.
One time is one thing but to come back here four different times? We've got to have some help to get it stopped. Somebody out there has got to recognize them.
–Deputy Justin Aagard, Sanpete County
From the video you can see there appears to be at least three men involved, some wearing masks. All the men have on rubber gloves on, apparently to conceal any fingerprints they could leave behind.
"They are running in, grabbing some strange items — flashlights, BB guns, things like that," said Neil Johnson, the manager at Moroni Feed Hardware.
In each of the burglaries, the thieves also broke out a plate glass window. Each time, Dusty Cox, who works for the local glass company, has come to replace glass or put up plywood.
"I hope they catch them," Cox said. "We're getting tired of it. It is not cool."
"One time is one thing," Aagard said, "but to come back here four different times? We've got to have some help to get it stopped. Somebody out there has got to recognize them."
Johnson said the hardware store is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
"Just help us out and find them," he said.
